No Such Thing (As a "Weird" Trigger)
This is something that I've seen people talk about over the years of my healing journey is that others (and myself) feel bad for having 'weird' triggers. One thing I've come to realize is there's no such thing as a 'weird' trigger. It might seem odd or even harmless to someone on the outside but it still relates to something very real and painful to you.
Some I've noticed for myself are:
Highlighting word searches (when in the ER for suicide evaluations I was allowed my word search book but no pens or pencils so they gave me a highlighter to use. I can only use highlighters on my word searches under those circumstances)
The phrase "life's a b***h/life sucks and then you die" was used by my abuser a LOT. It's unfortunately a common sentiment and a phrase used pretty liberally by the older generations.
Feel free to add your stories as well
(Edited by Teen Forum Star @Emily619 for language)
You honestly seem so, so brave for going through all of that. That's awesome that you're able to identify your common triggers, and I hope people are able to respect those. If you catch someone doing or saying something that may trigger you, it's important to let them know that what they're doing is making you uncomfortable. Keep being the amazingly brave person you are! 
@astuteScorpius
I had an ex that would tap on the inner nook of my elbow to be reassuring or reaffirming, not realising that my parent would tap that same area threateningly when I was doing something he didnt like. Would make me simultaneously angry, panic, and want to vomit at the same time.
Recently got told I wasn't being serious after laughing at some videos and had a nervous meltdown since it reminded me of when I would constantly have whatever object that made me laugh taken from me: music, books, drawing/writing supplies, computer usage.
More cultural, but there's a certain exclaimation of anger in West African culture "T'CHOH" which always signified that something terrible was coming. There was a similar sound in the Black Panther movies that made me feel ever so skittish every time I heard it. Mentioned it to my ex who decided it was a good idea to make the actual sound until I started cowering in a corner.
@Singeleybee53
That is so insensitive of them!! Do they know what you have been through?
I'm triggered by staplers pointed in my direction. I didn't know it was a trigger till I was in shock curled up into a protective ball after someone thought it would be fun to playfully point one at me at a party...Never again. There was a stapler war in my classroom the day after my Assault. I also can't do ANYTHING regarding "licking my face" when it comes to sexual encounters. Dude would always joke about licking me. ugggh, can't do.. Also I hate when a common name is your abusers name, used to send me into bad thought spirals.
I have some of the mundane triggers. For example, whenever someone tells me if they can ask me a question or if they can talk to me my heart races and sometimes I throw up because everytime it happened before the worst case scenario would always occur.
Oh boy, I've got a very specific trigger that snuck up on me out of nowhere!
So I love Star Trek, right? And there's this character in DS9 that was genetically altered when he was very young without his consent. And like... that entire episode triggers me. Screenshots, mentions, any talk about augments, whatever, it triggers me (which is rough because I'm in a trek rp community, lol. Everyone tags it for me though!). Flashbacks and the whole deal.
I think I know the connections that my brain made? (I don't remember all my trauma :/) But still, whoa boy it's hyperspecific. Definitely feel "weird" about that one.
Bright blue Subaru Crosstreks are my trigger. I always have to look to see if they have the Blue Lantern decals on the back window so I know if it is his car or not.
I have quite a lot of triggers, I've been doing trauma work in therapy recently and it has brought up some strange ones. I think the strangest one is when my cat jumps on my lap when I'm trying to do something or I'm not expecting it. She gets quite insistant and keeps coming back even when I have put her down a few times. This makes me feel really anxious and tearful. I think it triggers me because she is entering my personal space when I don't want her to. I was abused as a child and lack of personal space and privacy was one of the things that I found hard to cope with. I do love my cat and we have lots of cuddles, it's only when I need my space and she insists on come back that I feel triggered by it.
I have some unique triggers.
1. Vomit
2. Police
3. Feeling out of Place
4. Feeling Trapped
5. Going to Boise
6. Being around specific people
7. specific smells
8. when something isn't perfect/isnt up to standard
9. If I get Anxious
10. Coughing
I can assign logic to some of my "weirder" triggers, but some of them I really have no idea about. For example, sickness and specifically vomit is super triggering to me, and I have no idea why. On the other hand, lots of sexual scenarios are triggering to me, but the connection there is much more obvious.
@aadalet for me I'm very bothered by the smell of new trash bags. I'd use them to vomit in as a kid so just the smell of the bag now makes me feel queasy. I'd rather smell a can of dirty trash than a new trash bag.... which isn't the cleanest habit to have
Some of my triggers includes
A Waiting room: the one you go to when you have a doctor's appointment
Some phone ringtones : the kind of ringtones you could hear in a doctor's office or a hospital
Anything related to hospitals
Sometimes even seeing kids can put me in a huge panic attack
Also people putting their hand on my shoulder can be a huge trigger for me.
People cutting their food in a violent way.
