Triggers
Hi everyone,
I've noticed that my anxiety gets a lot worse when I come face-to-face with one of my triggers. (Most of the time my triggers that set off my anxiety are having car troubles, going to the doctor, dealing with life transitions/change, and traveling to visit family. However, sometimes there are different triggers.)
Right now I drive a really old car that seems to be constantly breaking down, so I've been dealing with a heightened sense of anxiety for a little while now. Usually I worry about my car, but sometimes that worry leads to different, completely unrelated worries. Sometimes I worry that all the worrying I'm doing is taking years away from my life by causing undue stress to my body.
My question is: What is the best way to cope when you're dealing with a trigger? How do you soften the extremity of the trigger so that you can think clearly again?
Hey ModestBike3436, Thank you for sharing. Triggers are very challenging especially if it seems like it is a downward spiral for most of them. One way that seems to help soften the situation is control. That might mean a lot or very little to you depending on where your at with your anxiety. In the midst of that time, when you are triggered and your anxiety is increasing. Try to focus on specifically what you can and can not control in that moment. Like, you say your car has had problems with breaking down in the past. So, it makes sense that everyday you are most likely nervous about your car. On top of that, this car may be the best you can do at the moment. So maybe everyday it may be beneficial to remind yourself that you know your car, you know what it is capable of, what it can do what it can't do, You know that it can't live forever. "So let's try again today and see if it will co-operate. If there is a problem, then I'll deal with that when it comes". Then if something does happen..Repeat the question. What can I control in this situation? What's done is done, What can I do to make it better?. Even though you have control over that car to a certain extent you don't have Full control over it. The car will do what it wants to do regardless. What are your thoughts on this? @modestBike3436
