I should explain, about my triggers

[citrusjava]

Hey,

So, I've been mentioning triggers for a while now, but I haven't clearly explained where I am, and I probably should. I should start by saying this isn't a response to a particular interaction - I just - I've had several related interactions in the past few days, and really I haven't ever explained where I stand on this, how I experience it, and what I need, for whoever may be willing to give it - and just, in general - it's just responsible to explain...

OK. So, I have three main triggers - issues or illness and health, death, and animals suffering. Discussion of those topics - even just seeing a vaguely related word or images - can mean hours of not being able to function, for me. Just - experiencing anxieties and waiting for that to stop. Sometimes it's shorter. Sometimes longer. I often can't eat, drink, write, would rather not communicate. In more serious cases (depending on the severity of the trigger, how much energy I have and how I feel coming into that, in my life), this can last, or partially last for days, in extreme cases, longer. And then I need to find ways to function after all, which leads to more anxieties ... it's hard.

I very much appreciate not being exposed to those topics.
When possible, cut tags or any other "spoiler treatment", can be wonderful and very much appreciated (even if I can't handle expressing that at that time...).

Regardless, if you do bring them up around me or toward me - this can very easily be read as if I don't care about people. Particularly since these are often related to needing empathy - and instead I tend to go cold.

In these situations, I generally need to not discuss not discussing the topic either, pro bably to not discuss anything else in that message or post or whatever.



Please, please understand that if you tell me about something like that and I don't reply (or don't reply to anything else either), it's because I can't. I treasure people wanting to share with me personal things, I really do. But I can't take this, I am so sorry, I just can't. Tell me about relationships, perversions, identity, I want to be there... tell me about issues of consent - I care...

Comments

[meesasometimes.livejournal.com]

(hugs)

I'm sorry.

Triggers are something that I don't think much about, not because I don't care, I do, they just aren't usually on my radar. I will try to be more sensitive to this and post with a cut for you, because I don't want to cause you unneccesary anxiety. If I forget in the future it's not that "I" don't care, I do.

so sorry baby.

[cantarina]

I'll do my best to keep all illness/health stuff under a cut, which is a thing I talk about more often than your average person. I'm glad you posted this! You taking care of you is so important <3

[big-heart-june.livejournal.com]

I'll try and remember, BB *hugs tight* ♥

[kat-lair.livejournal.com]

None of those topics are something I talk about a lot, and health issues are the only ones that might crop up on occasion but I will definitely try to remember. Is it just serious stuff that triggers you or any health related things, even mild, like 'I have a crappy cold' or 'oh god this hay fever' type of moans?

You know can filter in/out certain tags on your flist. That is of course if people conveniently tag such posts. But it occurs to me that if someone regularly talks about any of these topics they might also tag them. Worth looking into I guess.

[applegeuse.livejournal.com]

I really want to respect your triggers! I don't think any of these topics are things I frequently talk about. But on an adjacent level, I feel like I might reference illness when discussing h/c fics. Broadly speaking, is this something that could be a trigger for you?

[mystereos.livejournal.com]

I'm sorry things are so hard for you, but glad you felt you could share this and help your friends to understand where you are.

-Etaine