Dr. John A. King tears apart a therapist's five-step list for handling PTSD triggers, calling out how absurdly simplistic it is. The steps sound reasonable on paper: accept responsibility, recognize your reaction, identify the trigger, choose a feeling, shift your state. But King points out the gap between textbook advice and the chaotic reality of fear, anger, and sadness hitting at once.
I was chatting to a mate and he gave me a list. He'd just been to a therapist and they'd had a chat about stuff and he was talking to him about triggers. He gave him a written list of what to do when triggered. Number 1, accept responsibility for your actions. Right, we've got that. I don't know a fella who doesn't, a lady or guy doesn't with PTSD. Number 2 is recognise that you're having an emotional reaction. Duh. I'm out of control. I know I am. Number 3, if the emotion is related to fear, anger, or sadness, determine what triggers. Mate, if I knew what triggered it, I wouldn't be out of control like this. Fear, anger, or sadness? All of them all at once. Doofus. Number 4, choose what you want to feel and what to do. I don't want to feel like this, and I'd not be able to choose what to do with it or what to feel. I wouldn't be choosing this rubbish. And number 5, actively shift your emotional state. If I could, I would, moron.
