A Blast From The Past . . Research has shown the role of the adrenal glands play in survival is so vital that they seem to have a "hair- triggered" response. The brain does not reason, or analyse danger before the adrenaline is released. It seems that any form of sensory information can trigger the release of adrenaline, including imagined or remembered information. In other words, the brain won't tell you the danger that caused the adrenaline to be released was from a 30 year old memory until all that "fight/flight" is pumping through your system. Once these triggers have been pulled there is no going back. The hormones are off and running, they must run their course. These triggers can be on a conscious level, such as the sound of a helicopter, the night sky, the smell of dried fish or rice cooking. They may be on a subconscious level, as expecting family members to read your mind (hyper alertness) during s stressful situation and they don't! The uncontrolled trigger pulling and subsequent pumping of "fight/flight" hormones through the body moves this abnormal stress response to the foe side of the sheet. ADAPTATION - THE KEY TO VICTORY Adrenaline and nor adrenaline, although vital to our health and survival, can also work against us through uncontrolled over stimulation. Society, family and circumstance does not allow the natural responses of the "fight/flight" to the triggered release of these stress hormones. The victory over these "life saving" turned "life destroying" responses comes through adaptation. Adaptation is the key to victory over adrenaline related stress disorder, and understanding is the key to adaptation. Understanding PTSD, is understanding how the war experience is continuing to be fought or resolved in the mind of the Veteran. Understanding adrenaline triggers is understanding how the war experience is continuing to be played out in the body of the Veteran. Family, friends and support groups are vital to "trigger evaluation." The Vet must feel safe, supported and loved. SURRENDER - DISARMING YOUR TRIGGERS Triggers are dangerous to your health as well as to your relationships with loved ones, friends, fellow workers . Understanding your triggers, adaptation, and tools such as "trigger charts" will give you a measure of victory over some stress disorders. To completely render harmless and disarm your triggers, you must surrender them. This above all else is the option that has the most success. It doesn't work to fight your triggers, or to run from them. Disarming your triggers gives you the "real edge!" TRIGGER CHART

As your triggers are recorded, you will find not only triggers you were unaware of, but also repeated triggers. The repeated triggers are the ones to work on first. A part of that work involves prayer and surrender to God of those triggers, and another part of that work involves sharing your triggers. The above chart helps you share those trigger. Your sharing must always be with someone you can depend upon and trust, preferably a praying Christian who knows and lives in the power of prayer. Identifying and evaluating triggers is a vital first step in gaining victory and a "peace with your past." The trigger chart as shown will allow the visual and graphic evaluation of those events, (both real and remembered) that trigger your "fight/flight" responses.

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