If you have posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), you are not alone in coping with the symptoms. It is estimated that one in 11 people will receive a PTSD diagnosis in their lifetime. Here are ways to become familiar with what can trigger episodes and how to address them. 

How Do Triggers Develop?

PTSD triggers develop from feelings that arise and events that occur before or during the traumatic experience. Triggers can be an internal or external stimulus. 

If a person heard a rumbling noise before a traumatic explosion, the brain connects the noise with the threat of danger. Hearing a similar sound causes the brain to react with a response to warn of the perceived threat. Making a list of items, experiences, or sounds that you notice before PTSD symptoms start can help you learn how to respond differently. 

What Are Reactions to Triggers?

Triggers generate a variety of responses. Some individuals experience a higher sense of jumpiness and agitation, while others have vivid memories or dreams of the traumatic event. Reactions might include aggression, violence, deep sadness, or use of substances, such as drugs or alcohol to suppress the pain of trauma. 

How Can You Cope With Triggering? 

While it may seem contrary to common sense, exposure to triggers is the major and most effective method of treating PTSD. Addressing the trigger directly helps take it out of the realm of the past trauma and put it in a present context so it loses its connection with past events. 

Other ways of coping with sounds, images, or people who trigger PTSD symptoms include relaxation and meditation exercises, an animal for emotional support, and peer support groups. Cognitive behavioral therapy and exposure therapy guided by a mental health professional can provide long-term benefits.

If you have received a PTSD diagnosis or experience such episodes, seek help from the experienced team at CenterPointe Hospital in Weldon Spring, MO. This treatment center offers inpatient adult services that help individuals struggling with PTSD. Their patients are their top priority, so they provide individualized mental health services and compassionate care, including therapeutic intervention and education. For more about their work, visit them online. To schedule an appointment, call (636) 441-7300.