Triggers at school, help! :(
TW; Sex & sexual assault (only lightly mentioned)
hello! I’m really really nervous for school again after the holidays, it starts in 3 hours. I’ve been really happy all holidays because I havnt had to deal with all of the triggers that it brings. I was sexually assulted and people talking or making jokes about sex can sometimes send me into an overthinking and panic state. I’ll be surrounded by other teenagers, all they think about is sex. Is there a way I can try and control my panic episodes when a trigger comes up?
@chamomileteabag
Hello there!
Sadly, teenagers are experimenting and hormones are raging so sex is a common topic. My biggest suggestion is to avoid those type of conversations to the best of your ability. If avoiding isn't possible you can try a few things:
1. focus on your breathing. It may help to put your hand on your stomach or chest to feel your breathing
2. cross your arms and tap your shoulders as this helps you reorient if you are set into a panic or disassociated state.
3. hyper focus on an object in the room. What color is it? Is it bumpy, rough or smooth? etc.
I hope at least one of these tips help,
Ocean (Brooke)
hi, I am a college graduate of a criminal justice degree. I was triggered almost everyday. I would walk away and go into a room with a sink and soak my face with cold water if I could. If I couldn’t leave the room or class I would open whatever book I had with me and start reading to myself to drown out the triggers. It worked for me especially during the topics of sexual assault, rape or molestation. I also went to some of my instructors and confided in them and let them know what I was feeling during their class and all of them would watch out for me and if they saw I was being triggered they would come over to me and remind me to breathe and count to 20. If that didn’t work they would excuse me from the classroom and take me into the hallway to help me calm down. Just remember to close your eyes, focus on your breathing and count to whatever number it takes to relax your anxiety and your mind from the trigger.