Does anyone struggle with having intense reactions to certain environmental stressors?
4 Hearts
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-SG
I feel intense reactions upon hearing loud noise or from seeing anyone getting maltreated. Or when I am maltreated…but my reactions don’t get expressed out of anxiety. Reactions of anger and frustration I mean.
I rather suffer physical reactions as a result of trying to change things in my life. To change the way I do things.
I get reactions like itching, urine urgency, diarrhoea urgency etc
1 Heart
I understand some of what you mean. I suppress my reactions too. It leads to a very cynical, angry and disillusioned mindset for me. My physical symptoms include severe nausea and tremors in my arms and legs. It’s really difficult to keep focused at work when dealing with these things.
Its really difficult to live like this. Does any relaxation technique work for you?
Deep breathing is the only thing that somewhat reliably works for me. It takes practice and repeating to yourself that you’ll be okay physically.
You can also look up other vagus nerve stimulation techniques, like submerging your head in a bucket of ice water. That one is more inconvenient and may be uncomfortable.
You may be able to find some things that help you feel physically grounded and secure, like making a very relaxing and safe corner in your home, putting some comfortable pillows and heartwarming things there. You can put candles (be careful of the fire hazards), beautiful paintings or photos, etc… anything that helps remind you of good things. And you can do the breathing exercise there. I’m obviously not a therapist, these are just some of the things that sometimes help me get a bit of relief from the pain.
1 Heart
Thanks a lot! And I appreciate your effort in writing a detailed reply.
1 Heart
Hi, I experience triggers from the outside world too and people remind of the people that have hurt me, loud noises or if someone comes near me without telling me what they’re doing, I feel like because the people closest to me have betrayed me that like the world is out to get me almost as if it’s closing in on me, I feel like even when I’m alone I have no privacy, and always have to keep my head on a swivel, I feel like everyone’s out to get me and it’s hard for me to accept love because my family betrayed me so bad and my whole life has been a lie, and that’s a very hard pill for me to swallow so I run away from good people who are trying to help me because my body and heart are just so broken. I get lost In my head and try to talk myself out of what happened to me because I can’t believe the people I love would could hurt me this badly, but I know it’s the truth. Because everytime I get sober the same flashbacks, trauma and night mares occur. I feel so alone and find myself looking for love in the wrong places and masking the pain with unhealthy habits, and keep allowing the same people who hurt me back into my life instead of just taking how they treat me the first time for what it is. Forgiving them from a distance and moving on. The only thing that helps me is art music and exercise but I find myself isolating myself and obsessing over the smallest mistakes. Trying so hard to be perfect until eventually I give up trying to be perfect and fall back into old toxic patterns / behaviors i want so badly just to heal, but I have trauma with doctors forcing psychotic medication on me, as I choose a more faith based approach to healing.
I also have reactions to certain stressors, especially large crowds, loud noises, bright lights. I don’t really have intense reactions other than my mind just starts to shut down on its own and I start feeling overwhelmed. I usually try to avoid going to places like that.
1 Heart
Yes exactly my mind just starts to like shut down for example right now I am at the doctors office and having anxiety but I just came to a realization that it could be much worse …
1 Heart