Triggers

[Junkjournal1]

Hi I was just wondering if anyone has anxiety triggers with certain people but don’t necessarily know why odd question I know. I mean my anxiety isn’t great anyway lately. It actually feels worse in a way since I upped my dose of Sertraline from 50mg to 100mg I did do this very gradually though. Any insight would be greatly appreciated thank you.

[MindfulMoment]

My mom is a huge trigger for my anxiety. I don’t know why. My thoughts are that I want to protect her. I’ve spent my whole life being her protector, taking care of her, being strong. I never cry in front of her. It’s nothing she does but I will avoid her if I’m feeling a lot of anxiety. My mom was an awesome mom, we have a great relationship. But I feel immense pressure not to let her see when I’m weak because I feel like it will hurt her.

[LoveforAll41 in reply to MindfulMoment]

That is a lot of pressure Mindful. I am sorry that you have to be so strong around your Mom. Do you think that sharing that with her would bring you closer and maybe alleviate your anxiety?

My anxiety tends to just be social anxiety in general when I am feeling low self-worth. Being around my in-laws can be especially hard because I feel like I am failing their daughter and grandchildren... 😥

[MindfulMoment in reply to LoveforAll41]

She is aware of my anxiety. She’s seen me have panic attacks but she doesn’t really understand. She’s never experienced it herself and from the outside I can mask the chaos pretty well. I’d never let her know she is a trigger for me. It would hurt her feelings too bad. I’d rather carry that around. There’s nothing she could do, it’s in my head. It’s something I’ve been working through in therapy for years.

I’m so sorry you feel like you are failing your wife and children. I know that feeling so intimately. And I have at times actually failed my husband and children. But it’s not a lack of effort or love. I think that’s just life. I try to switch roles with my husband in my head. Would I see him as a failure because he was struggling? Would I mistreat him and be cruel to him the way I am to myself? Of course not. I love him. And I believe that same love flows back to me even if I can’t accept it.

[Trentz]

I get triggered by certain people but don't know why. I really wish I could prevent it. I wish I could be more help.

[LoveforAll41 in reply to Trentz]

I think it is great to just be able to empathize Trent. There is a lot of work we can all do. A mood journal or something might help you identify what gets you triggered by some people? I just hide from everyone when I am feeling down.

[Trentz in reply to LoveforAll41]

I definitely need to start journalling. I've been really busy recently but I will make it a priority

[Trentz in reply to LoveforAll41]

I definitely need to start journalling. I've been really busy recently but I will make it a priority.

[Weatherwoman in reply to Trentz]

I am SO triggered, now, by my living situation with my Brother & Sister-in-law. I have Never felt okay around them, and now have to stay with them till I can get my own place. They are critical, judgemental, perfectionists, and I simply have Zero in common with them. I am developing Social Anxiety around them staying in the guest room too much to avoid them. It's just Awful --I am NOT like this (social inept) with my friends, and was in No way like this with my Sig. Other who passed away last Nov. So, yes certain people can and do trigger us.

[LoveforAll41]

Is it a few specific people or a lot of people Junkjournal? It is hard, especially when there are people that we have to be around or interact with. It has been a while since you changed your dose of meds?

[Chriseb112]

I to suffer from clinical depression and anxiety attacks a letter email phone call text with working news or worse bad news where I'm anxious the straight away, longer I think a about it the worse I become

[TangledUpIn]

I've had some bosses that gave me major anxiety. Really difficult, as you probably know, to be around someone that triggers you.

[Trainchaser]

There are certain people I avoid that are bad for my mental health who occasionally trigger my anxiety. Luckily none of these people play a large roll in my life

[Anxietylady]

I dont think any certain person triggers my anxiety, its situations for me, such as weather, bad news etc.... Sometimes it just comes from no where.