Do you need to know what to do when your betrayal trauma is triggered? Triggers are generally described as reminders associated with your partner’s sexual acting out and emotional abuse, or other relationally abusive behaviors.
Many victims feel frustrated with themselves when they experience triggers – wondering if they’re not “healing fast enough” or if they’re seeing abuse where it doesn’t exist.
Here at BTR, we encourage our community to practice radical self-care in the face of betrayal trauma triggers.
Betrayal Trauma Affects a Woman’s Body and Mind
The unfortunately reality is that betrayal trauma permeates a victim’s entire life, including her emotional and physical health.
Physical symptoms include, but are not limited to:
- Nausea
- Fatigue
- Disorientation
- Headaches and other physical pains/discomforts
- Pelvic pain
- Body temperature fluctuation
- Loss of appetite or increased appetite
Emotional and mental symptoms may include:
- Numbness
- Rage
- Mood swings
- Increased crying or an inabilitiy to cry
- Panic and/or anxiety attacks
Betrayal Trauma Triggers May Be A Warning
In traditional therapy models, triggers are often spoken of in a negative light. At BTR, we believe in a woman’s intuition. When a victim is feeling triggered, she may want to explore that feeling with a supportive and knowledgeable professional. Women are better able to protect themselves and their children when they understand and can respond appropriately to triggers.
It is important that women see triggers as a powerful safety mechanism within themselves. Women’s bodies and brains want safety and will use triggers to remind women to stay away from unsafe situations that remind them of previous traumas.
3 Steps to Toward Healing & Peace
Emotional Safety
When women set boundaries, they are able to begin setting the framework for an emotionally safe and healthy life.
Self-Care
Abusers condition victims to ignore their own needs. At BTR, we support women in learning to love themselves and learn the tools for appropriate self-care.
Support
No victim should have to walk the road of healing alone. Support is essential to every betrayed and abused woman. Women deserve support and validation.
BTR.ORG Offers Emotional Safety and Support
At BTR, we understand how much triggers can affect a victim’s life. The BTR.ORG Podcast is available to all victims. This resource offers knowledge that helps women become empowered.
Our BTR.ORG Group Sessions offer community, validation, and support to women all over the world.
Remember, you are not alone.