dealing with triggers

dealing with triggers
H

healing_inside

Hi,

One thing that helps me is to realize it is a trigger and that I can't be physically hurt again. Big Jim knows it is not reality on the outside, but Little Jim on the inside (the one that is scared, in panic mode)doesn't know.

2 days ago I got real scared in public and I started to find a place to hide, but I realized what I was doing and how I felt at the time and big Jim told little Jim that he is safe, in no danger and that he is being protected.

I was in public for about 4 hours and I don't remember how many times I talked to little Jim over the hours (sometimes just for a few seconds). As little Jim got scared, big Jim took over and told him that everything was going to be ok.

To be honest it didn't work everytime that day, but most of the time it did. I just kept doing it

Hope this helps. :)

-Jim
 
yeah, that does help. ill try it tomorrow in school if and when i get nervous walking down the halls. thanks.
 
One thing that helps me with panic attacks is slow controlled deep breathing. When I do this simple exercise I have a some sense of feeling like I'm in control again. When confronted with a panic trigger, give it a try.
 
demonboi,

I have a few suggestions. like FormerTexan said, deep breathing is a huge help. When you feel it coming on, breath and count: one one-thousand, two one-thousand. closing your eyes might help. tell yourself that whoever is triggering is not really out to get you. It's okay. Your sister won't let her boyfriend hurt you, and he doesn't want to anyway. You're safe. Breathe.

Secondly, about school (and this is the tough one)... Like healing_inside said, breathing deep and rationalizing it away doesn't always work. Sometimes I need to get away from the trigger, take a walk, go to the bathroom, get a drink of water, something -- anything-- besides what I'm doing at that moment. Asking to go to the bathroom is always a good excuse, but don't use it as a crutch.

What you need to do (and again, tough), is let a teacher know about your triggers. In a safe place, and alone with the teacher, let the teacher know as much as you can about what's going on... have your sister there to help you and to make you feel safer... if your teacher knows, you are going to be a million times safer and your "go to the bathroom" request will be a good code word between you and him/her to get out of the situation that is triggering you at the time.

I know this is hard, but your sister will help you, and so will your teachers and prinicipals.

jim.

p.s. to healing_inside: i'm little jim too. and i'm 28 and 6'5"... funny, huh?
 
Hi,

I think controlled breathing and going for a walks are good tips. That day I went for a walk for a few minutes, and really gave little Jim a talking to. I told him that he was not going to ruin my fun and that he was to be quiet and we will talk later on the way home.

I know, sound sort of strange, but little Jim can't express what he is feeling so big Jim had take over. Don't be scared, I don't talk to myself, only when little Jim gets scared.
:)

Good luck in school tomorrow, let us know how it went. I got this info from a PM between me and Kev a few weeks ago.

To: cant_remember. when I was abused the first time I was 3 foot tall and now I am 6' 2". No one messes with us Jim's anymore :)
 
Hi,

Good for you. Glad it helped. All of the guys are proud of you.

-Jim :)
 
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