PTSD: External Triggers
External triggers are situations, people, or places that you might encounter throughout your day that can bring up uncomfortable PTSD symptoms, such as memories of a traumatic event or feelings of being on edge and anxious.
Common External triggers:
- an argument
-the end of a relationship
-a specific place, smell, or object(Source: Matthew Tull, Verywell mind)
Farrah»
As I was now in the process of rolling the blunt, a wave of guilt fell over me.
While me and Adonis were remembering the time we were just friends...I thought of the guy he was. Quiet and innocent. I kept trying to convince myself that I was just showing him the fun that his mom wouldn't let him have, but by now I just felt like.... a bad influence.
"Don..maybe we shouldn't."
"Why not?"
"I- I just feel like I'm bad for you Adonis."
"Bad? What do you mean?"
"I'm thinking of..you know...how you were before?"
"What was I like before, Farrah? I- I just went on and on about how I'm happy I met you and how I'm such a better person because of you...and now you're saying that it was all a mistake-"
"I'm not saying that, I'm saying..we shouldn't be doing all this bad shit. Sneaking, having sex, smoking-"
"It's not like you're making me do something I didn't want to do. Bad decisions are bad decisions..but it's not you being some type of bad influence on me."
"If I wasn't in your life you wouldn't be doing all this."
"You're right. I'd be in my room miserable, not speaking to anyone, having no one, and cutting my arms. I'd rather make a couple bad decisions than be doing that."
It was now clear that I'd hurt him..I knew I should've stopped there..but I felt like I needed to explain myself.
"Adonis I just- I feel like maybe-"
"Did you not enjoy the things we did together? Why is it suddenly a problem?"
"It's not Don. I was just worried that I...I don't know..." I trailed off. I didn't know what else to say. Adonis was now even more frustrated than before, and struggling to hide it.
I shouldn't have even brought any of this up.
"Don-"
"It's fine..." He said, picking up everything I'd grabbed out of Eden's room and walked out.
I'd never seen Adonis angry before, and even when I'd seen him upset..it was never something I caused.
Not knowing exactly what to do, I climbed out of his bed. I know it'd be awkward to just sit here like nothing happened..so I prepared an apology in my head.
The second he entered the room, I began.
"Adonis I'm sorry...sometimes I overthink things like this."
"You don't have to be sorry about what you feel, Farrah. I don't want you to feel like you have to take it back."
"And I don't want you to think I regret the things we've done..I just..was making sure that I wasn't pushing you too far."
Adonis»
Farrah and I never have argued before...about anything. But as we continued to disagree with each other about her being a 'bad influence' I noticed her begin to get flustered.
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Difference
ChickLitA story of teenager Adonis, living with post traumatic stress disorder, as well as a world of other issues involving his family, his school, and his own thoughts. He eventually befriends the popular, Farrah, who at first...takes more interest in his...