how do you handle being triggered with ptsd

i have ptsd, and my traumas happened 30 years ago, where i was physically attacked and harrassed...but in the present my trauma can easily return if i'm triggered, traumatic memories return...then i feel overly angry, out of control and feel like dishing out revenge or vengeance.

i'm also in the grip of extreme anxiety to when i go out, so difficult emotions to work through...i often get triggered with all these emotions and memories when people make loud noises, or i'm around young boisterous lads at the gym who banter each other.

when i go out i try to stay in control, and concentrate on what i'm doing but it's hard to do that for me....can anyone give any tips or advice?

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Ananke · 26-30, F

I did years of therapy. I'm now at the point where I only have flare ups on the anniversary of my trauma. I prepare myself ahead of time in that situation and make sure I see my mental health team regularly. I have emergency medication I can take if I have a freak out. I rely on those close to me to comfort me and help ground me and distract me. Eventually the flare up passes and I'm back to normal again.

Again it took YEARS of therapy to get to that point. PTSD isnt something you just will away or grow out of or get over. You need to put in a ton of work and it is not fun work, you get worse before you get better in a lot of cases as it is very painful. But it is very worth it as I said nowadays I am practically symptom free most of the year!!