What does it mean to be ‘triggered'?

It refers to the experience of developing an emotional reaction to a disturbing topic. Feeling triggered isn't just about being rubbed the wrong way. For individuals with history of trauma, being around anything that reminds them of a traumatic experience can make them feel like they are reliving the whole experience again.

In the context of other mental health disorders, a trigger is anything that prompts an increase in or return of symptoms.

Internal triggers come from within a person. It can be a memory, physical sensation, or emotion. Here are some common internal triggers:

1. Anger

2. Anxiety

3. Feeling overwhelmed, vulnerable, abandoned, out of control

4. Loneliness

5. Muscle tension

6. Memories tied to traumatic event

7. Pain

8. Sadness

External triggers come from a person's environment. It can be a person, place, or specific situation. Here are some common examples:

1. Movie, tv shows, or news article

2. A person connected to the experience

3. Arguing with a friend, spouse, or partner

4. Specific time of the day

5. Certain sounds

6. Changes to relationships or ending a relationship

7. Significant dates such as holidays or anniversaries

8. Specific locations

9. Specific smells

A trigger can cause an emotional reaction before a person realises the reason. Often, triggers have a strong sensory connection (a sight, sound, taste, or smell) or are linked in some way to a deeply ingrained habit.

When triggered, the brain might interpret past traumatic events as current and cause the body to re-live the same responses that occurred during the original trauma. This is known as ‘traumatic coupling'.