Anxiety Triggers

[Vitsyra]

Hi All,

I have been wondering if other people have anxiety triggers. I've always been quite sensitive, though have gotten a little tougher with age. Last Friday I triggered my anxiety by watching a scary zombie movie, which I knew I shouldn't have done, but did not expect to struggle so much with anxiety for the last few days. Even just thinking or mentioning the movie makes me fearful.

So I was wondering if others have triggers, I have quite a few things I avoid because I worry they will set me off. It is kind of a sucky way to live life.

For me, I have to be very careful with movies, TV, books.. anything too scary, unfair, cruelty to animals, or just too sad can set me off.

I also have to be careful with social media, news.. etc.

I don't travel, because being away from home can trigger me. So hard to explain to workmates that I haven't traveled and nor do I want to. 😞

Meeting new people, new situations. but also not doing these things can set me off. Getting into trouble at work, accidentally breaking a road rule, or being told off by someone. Even if I THINK I did something wrong with work it can set me off.

Being alone in some places, like events, shops, etc.

When I'm already suffering anxiety, the chance of triggering myself again is always more likely than when I'm in a good place.

I know a lot about what can trigger my anxiety, I just wish I knew how to turn it off once it starts. 😞 One moment can lead to weeks of despair.

[BballJ]

Hi Vitsyra,

I know all about anxiety triggers as I have them as well, for me many things can set me and sometimes nothing will set of anxiety as well. Social media is a big trigger for me and being on my own is also a trigger as I have an overthinking mind and when alone, my thoughts can run wild. Are you currently seeing a psychologist to help deal with your anxiety at all? I did manage to start controlling my triggers when I was seeing my psychologist.

My best for you,

Jay

[Undiagnosedanxietygirl]

I’ve never been sure if I have anxiety, but my mind can conjure up a billion different things, especially when I am by myself and it’s scary especially in public because I feel like I can’t even act normal, whyyyyyy

[Vitsyra]

Hi Jay,

Being alone is one for me too, I think too much. I've been told I'm quite intense, driven I guess.. so I can push myself too far and stress myself out. I worry a lot, always have.

Night time is the worst for me, especially now I live alone. I recently moved out of my parents into my own home, which while a great achievement and a long time coming has set me off. And it was much easier to recover when I lived in my parents house surrounded by people and pets.

I re-booked to see a psychologist, unfortunately the wait time is 4 weeks. Problem is, in 4 weeks time I'll be back on top of the world, and seeing psychologist can actually retrigger me. *sigh* And if I'm not feeling better by then, I'll be completely crazy. But hopefully they can help me.

Hey Undiagnosed,

It sounds like you might have some form of anxiety. Its hard not to worry all the time. For me reading is my escapism and keeps me sane. Maybe see about getting some help. You aren't alone, there's lots of us out there.

[BballJ]

Hi Vitsyra,

I understand everything you are saying and can relate a lot. I overthink everything which is a big cause of my anxiety and create problems in my head. It is tough but do try and see that psychologist in 4 weeks, I know you may of felt it passed but the key is getting the help to learn how to cope with the triggers at any time.

Hi undiagnosedanxietygirl,

Same advice as above and same advice Vitsyra gave you, maybe look at speaking to your local GP about how you are feeling as it may be anxiety you are feeling.

My best,

Jay

[Birdy77]

Hi lovely people,

I am in the midst of a huge wave of anxiety and in the middle of the night awoke in a cold sweat, heart racing and then the irrational thoughts and catastrophic thinking began. I was blindsided and didn't know why this had started, but then around 3:30 this morning i think i realised that i may have been triggered by some things going on in the news, particularly yesterday. It kind of helped to be able to recognise that there may have been a trigger for the intensity of my anxiety, as i think mostly i have a lower grade general anxiety (which can feel debilitating as well, but in a different way, this was like panic i guess).

I created an account here and read some posts in the middle of the night and it really felt comforting to know I'm not alone.

So, thanks to all you lovely brave souls, it's nice to read of your stories and hear your kind support of one another.

This is my first post.

Love and light to all xo

[EllieC]

It sucks doesn't it that we can be going along okay and then have something external trigger our anxiety? It feels unfair.

I can particularly relate to you, Birdy, I've been trying to cut down how much I watch the news because so much of it has been horrible. I find that picking and choosing the programs that report in a more straight up unemotive way can be helpful.

Lately it's been an ad triggering my anxiety - I've been trying to recover from an eating disorder and this ad is a really vivid and graphic warning about the dangers of belly fat and I just hate it so much, whenever it comes on I end up alternating back and forth between despair and wanting to punt the TV out the window. I mentioned it to my housemates and they change the channel whenever the ad comes on but I still always see the start of it where they're showing pictures of fat so it only helps some of the way

Anyway. Triggers suck.

On a happier note, welcome to the boards Birdy. Glad they could help you last night

[Birdy77]

Hi Ellie,

Thank you 😊 wow that must be really hard with the trigger of the ad, because you never know when it's going to come on. I don't have television, but I'm having to be careful what news items i read at the moment. The other day when i was majorly triggered, i read way too much of a particular topic that was breaking in the news (not sure if I'll mention it, don't want to trigger others?). I don't use social media either but i got into reading people's tweets around the topic and watched parts of the interview online that came on with the person involved and i just consumed way too much of it and did not realise i was going to impact on me later. Then in the middle of the night was the cold sweats and panic ... but I'm glad i was able to identify that there WAS in fact a trigger because that helped me to rationalise with myself and curb the mental anguish a bit.

Yes Ellie, triggers suck 😊

[startingnew]

HI Vitsyra and everyone

anxiety can be a real cow! I have lots of trigger and really th question asked should be what doesnt trigger you.
I cant go onto social media, I have certain movies that I cant watch, the thought of being abandoned, certain smells, textures and locations I cant go. And there is also songs that I cant listen to because they trigger me so I have to download my own music and make my own safe cds.
Kids are a massive trigger as well, so the save the children adds and animal cruelty adds also set me off.
My own house is actually a trigger for me so that is one that I cant escape, being alone or too crowded is another trigger esp crowds.


So your not alone, there are lots of others out there with anxiety triggers.


Hello to also our new members Birdy, EllieC and undiagnosedanxietygirl and welcome to BB


shoutout to BballJ too


please dont be afraid to reach out for help, as BballJ has said speaking to your gp is the first step from there you can speak to a psychologist and also a psychiatrist as well

[CMF]

Hi all and welcome to new comers,

I have triggers with a capital T. I Don't watch the news or newspapers. I always change radio stations when news comes on and avoid gossipy magazines.

Vitsyra, I know what you mean about feeling better by the time you see your psych but that's all part of them getting to know you and I guess helping with triggers. It is a tough battle but know you are not alone at all.

Tale care

CMF