Should we avoid our triggers or face them specially when trigger is a person. I avoid triggers and feels good but as soon as i face them, i started to panic. What will you do if you were in my place.

To tell you the truth, I would avoid the person if I could. May not be the right thing to do, but it's just what I do

I do try to avoid, but avoiding that particular person on permanent basis is impossible , since we have to interact with each other on regular intervals.

@Asanea15 If I can't avoid someone I just blast music in my ears or find some other way to drown my surroundings out. Of course that can't be done all the time though😩

@Cheetahvionic Haha yes i do that as well, put earphones when that particular person is present.

I think its best to face our triggers but that's just me

Sometimes i think too that since avoidance is not a permanent soloution so i must accept this and face this upfront. But i get scared too when i think about exposing myself to the trigger.

@Asanea15 Yeah i get that! It can be scary!! I think maybe it would be over time! Like maybe if you could be around the person for like 15 mins and then a little longer and eventually it not bother you! I guess it also depends why you are avoiding them, what their relationship is to you, etc. And it can be hard to do it graduallg as well when the person doesn't understand or know! If you have a therapist this is definitely something I would bring up to him or her!

Hi there! Thank you so much for posting on here! I would defs bring this up with your therapist, as they have way more knowledge than I do! However, here are my 2 cents: When facing triggers, our amygdala goes into overdrive and tells us to retreat. However, when practicing ERP, it’s important to face those triggers (as upsetting as it may be). Start off slowly, with a less distressing trigger (maybe the persons name, a picture, a description of them…), and work your way up. I’m so proud of you for not giving up. You’re doing an amazing job! Keep it up!