Episode 20 - What is Wrong with Me?

why can’t I control my reactions?

 

'Trigger Warning' if you or someone you know has been affected by sexual abuse please remember the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre 24-Hour Helpline 1800 77 8888

In today’s podcast we will be discussing triggers for victims of childhood sexual abuse. What are they? and why do we need to know about them.

For victims of abuse or trauma of any description a trigger can be anything that reminds you of your trauma. These triggers are extremely personal and can occur at any time. Triggers can be sounds, smells, tastes, touch, the tone in someone voice, hearing a word or phrase, seeing images, videos, an expression or a gesture.  

The impact for some victims of abuse or trauma may cause overwhelming emotional or physical response and unfortunately can happen out of the blue causing a myriad of emotional or physical responses. Triggers can catapult a victim back to the memory of their abuse but because of how memories are stored within the mind and body the cause of the pain may not necessarily be clear.

Understanding how memories are stored can help to understand why these emotional or physical experiences can appear to have no apparent connection to what is happening in your life at the time when they occur. It is only by exploring your responses and behaviours that you will ever make sense of what is happening and why. It is with this information that you will be in a position to address those issues in your life that you are unhappy with.

On our website (link below) there are a number of blogs that you may find useful in relation to triggers, a blog on triggers and some blogs on what can be difficult occasions for victims of abuse along with a number on the impacts of abuse.

 

Please share and spread the word……

 Take care

Joyce, June and Paula 

 https://thekavanaghsisters.com/blogs/

https://thekavanaghsisters.com/2018/02/04/understanding-triggers/