Anyone suffering anxiety and panic? How do you deal with specific triggers like photos/songs?

[mom2daisypie]

Hi,

I'm really struggling with triggers. It can be anything and takes me off guard making me scared to watch TV, listen to the radio or go onto social media.
A classic example was the other day, my friend took me out for coffee and she had a Victoria sponge cake. It triggered a memory for me and I got very upset. The silliest things! Someone mentioned Oxford on the radio and my brain instantly went to a family break we had last year in Oxford and I broke down.
Is this all normal? I feel like I'm torturing myself.

I've been on Facebook this morning to find puppy training classes and saw photos on my friends feed which again triggered my panic and distress. I started shaking and crying.

I don't want to have to avoid people, places, etc so I need some advice on how to not be triggered by every little thing.

You poor thing this sounds so upsetting. Have you tried therapy or counselling?
I'm getting a bit like this so just trying to talk myself out of it and force myself to remember the shit times and not idealise the past when there were so many sad/upset times. You have a new future ahead of you, just stay focused and positive about that xxx

It will happen - even planning a holiday will as you will go back in your mind to ones you had with ex etc and if you go back to same places for days out your mind will wander.

I ditched joint friends that had obviously taken her side. I also physically went to places we had been to like the local pub etc to create new memories and to nip that in the bud. Luckily for me she was very nasty and vindictive after split so that has given me a lot of hate to offset any nice feelings!