Tips to work through trigger

[Mummygettingthroughit201]

I walked down a street today and it triggered something in me from a very long time ago. Something traumatic happened to me as a teenager that at the time I didn't realise was wrong until afterward and therefore told nobody and I thought it was something I had buried/gave no thought to.

16 years later I've walked down that street oblivious and it's set something off in me I feel like I could burst into tears/ashamed. I've been down this street many times since and never given it a thought so I'm confused as to why now!

I am a fully grown woman now with a family of my own and I can't help but feel why now has my brain dredged up this memory?!

Tips - how can I get through this, put it back to the back of my mind and give it zero thought.

Hi,

I guess it could be any reason - you might have recently started to think back to the past perhaps even subconsciously, or something had started to trigger the memory and then walking down the street crystallised it. Perhaps for whatever reason as you went down the street you weren’t as distracted as normal and your memory took you back there. It could have been a reflection of your mood that day.

Your brain is built to look for threats to protect you - which goes back to caveman times. For whatever reason that day the memory got stirred up and it’s your brains way of ‘warning’ you of danger. Even when in reality there isn’t any but your brains suddenly telling you bad things happen here and bringing up a strong feeling. To trigger the fight/flight response.

I don’t think you should be ashamed. Sometimes you almost need to speak to yourself and just say ‘yes you are right something bad did happen here but it was a long time ago and it’s all ok now’. Then just keep saying it’s ok until you feel calmer. I think avoiding the area would make it worse as it will become ‘a thing’ - remember you managed to put it to the back of your mind once so you will again.

If you want to maybe it’s time to speak about what happened with a therapist or family member/friend?

Hope you are ok

X

Excellent advice from @Squiggles23

Thank you so much for responding I feel much better today like I say no idea what caused the response I had! But I read your I'm ok I'm ok comment and it's calmed me a lot! Thank you again

No worries at all, it’s so strange how these things suddenly come on. I’m really glad you are feeling better now. ❤️