Back in control of the panic buttons

Editor’s note: The following essay was written by the Lovefraud reader “Adelade.”

Without going into a long, drawn-out recollection of my experiences with sociopaths, I wanted to talk about my “Panic Buttons.” The panic buttons are the same as “triggers,” but I tend to panic, so I see them as “panic buttons.”

There is a host of priceless discussion on this site about triggering. I’m one of those types that not only triggers, but I typically fall down a vortex of panic that starts out on the edge of the whirlwind, and I spiral downwards, and inwards, until I’m so disoriented that I don’t know how to get out.

The “reason” that I tend to panic is because of my past experiences with sociopaths and abuse. There was always “hope” that the abuse would stop. It would cease for periods of time and this gave me the false belief that “change” was in the offing. Well, true to form, the abuse would always (without fail) resume and intensify after the lulls.

So, there are certain circumstances that I’ve always reacted to with panic. Now, it wouldn’t begin as full-blown panic anxiety, but it would be a sort of uneasy tickle in my gut that would spiral out of control and, as is most typical, the abuser would capitalize on my discomfort and elevate it to the next level.

Abusive exes

An example of this would be with the first abusive ex-spath. One of our children’s birthdays would be coming up and I would begin to believe that, this year, the father of these children would finally attend to our children of his own accord. He would give the impression that this was to be by talking about birthday parties, gifts, fun, and so forth—my hope for a “normal” event for our children.

As the birthday drew closer, he would begin to complain about not being able to afford a party, or a specific gift, etc. This would dash my hopes for “normality” and begin the panic vortex in a slow spin. In response, I would try to “fix” the situation by any means, to no avail. Then, the vortex would pick up speed and start drawing me in. The demands would begin that I contact my parents to ask for money, or the child wouldn’t even have a birthday cake. If I refused to ask my parents for money, he would begin to “bargain” with me for sexual favors. If I performed an act that he had witnessed in pornographic imagery, he might “get the money together” to buy a birthday cake.

Back and forth, these tactics would go and I would begin to feel panic—I either had to find the money or perform a repulsive sex act. If I were too slow in reacting to the threats, the blame would be placed on my shoulders because I didn’t “care enough” about our children to “obey” my husband. Then, the beatings would begin, and the vortex of panic would be unstoppable. Invariably, I ended up calling my parents and begging for birthday money. After the money arrived, it would be a “honeymoon” of sorts where the children would be showered with gifts, clothing, food, and birthday cakes – but, never a party.

Fast forward to the second marriage. This panic vortex always began with finances, and the second ex-spath was well aware of these issues because I had told him of my experiences with the first ex-spath. Because the second ex-spath was not physically abusive, it never occurred to me that he was at the main switch to engage the panic vortex and that I was just as easily manipulated by these fears without beatings or sexual abuse. Because the second ex-spath frequently asserted (and, I quote), “I will NEVER abuse you like that,” I believed those words and trusted the second ex-spath’s word was his bond. Well, he was far more subtle, and finances were the primary Panic Button for him to push.

Not obligated to react

Of course, there are other Panic Buttons that can send me off into a full-blown state of anxiety, and there’s no need to list each of them here. But, what I have learned in my first stages of recovery is that I am not obligated to “RE-act” to “bad news” or any given situation.

The most recent example of this was the threat of losing the shell that I live in if I didn’t “participate” in a joint bankruptcy action filed by the second ex-spath. The bankruptcy attorney was retained by the ex-spath and was in a great rush for me to drive to another State, sign papers, and meet with the ex-spath in a joint “credit counseling” meeting that clearly violated the standing Restraining Order. The bankruptcy attorney claimed that he was unaware that I had relocated, or that there was a Restraining Order in place, but that I should “jump on this” because it was a “freebie” and would relieve me of all debts. This attorney also minimized the Restraining Order by saying (again, I quote) “The credit counseling would be allowed.”

I’m not going to say that I didn’t begin to slip into the Panic Vortex – I sure did. But, several people on LoveFraud.com and in Real Life counseled me to slow down and think, instead of reacting. And, I did this—for the first time in my life, I stopped that vortex and looked at the facts, as they were:

* The ex-spath was declaring bankruptcy for his unsecured debts

* I did not have any unsecured credit with the exception of the balance of an auto loan

* The bankruptcy attorney was not working for me, but had been retained by the ex-spath

* The ex-spath would never, under any circumstances, take any action that would benefit me

* Any time that I feel that I must make a very hurried decision, I make a mistake and I had the distinct feeling that I was being rushed into re-acting, rather than making an educated decision

Back in control

After a time, all of this simmered down and I was back in control of my actions, thoughts, and decisions. And, this one experience became a tremendous lesson to me that my reactions with regard to control go all the way back to my damaged “inner child” that had consistently experienced one disappointment after another, regardless of any assurance that things would “be better” the next time. The origins of the Panic Vortex finally became crystal clear, and the only person that has a finger on the Panic Button is now me. I am not required to panic for any reason, especially those scenarios that are instigated by the ex-spath, or his attorneys. I am no longer “panicked” about the divorce. I am finally beginning to feel a tiny measure of control, and this “feeling” is finally based upon “fact.”

Sure, there are many things over which I have no control, but those things can be addressed through slow, informed, and insightful consideration. I can take action without “RE-acting.” And, I cannot describe how empowering this fact is. This one fact has been a boost to my self-esteem and self-worth to a degree that I cannot describe— I have never, at any point during my lifetime, felt this sense of empowerment.

We each have this ability to manage triggers, anxiety, panic, and our own personal vortexes. It just takes time, practice, discussion, and consideration to take back or even formulate control and power over ourselves, if we’ve never experienced it before. For me, it’s been a lifetime devoid of this, and this has been an incredible epiphany. I can make things happen under my own power, and I can control my level of re-actions when I am able to recognize what the basis for my anxiety is. Are my “feelings” based upon “facts,” or am I reacting? If I stop and examine all of the facts of any given situation, I can determine this. Most often, if I leave the emotion out of the equation, the solution is relatively obvious. If I run on high emotion, then every rock, pebble, or twig presents an obstacle that appears to be insurmountable. This is a new exercise for me, and one that I have never practiced throughout my lifetime.

In spite of all of the ramifications of sociopath entanglements, every day is an eye-opener for me. Even those days when the sky seems to be falling, there is something new for me to learn and experience.