What is a trigger? 👇🏿

A “trigger” causes painful memories to resurface. A trigger can be any sensory reminder of the traumatic event: a sound, sight, smell, physical sensation, or even a time of day or season.

A trigger can be anything that activates or worsens the symptoms of a mental health condition, such as obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) or substance use disorder.

The word “triggered” is used more casually nowadays, which has likely caused some confusion.

But it’s important to note that there’s a difference between being uncomfortable or offended and having a true mental health symptom.

In general, when a person is “triggered,” they’re being provoked by a stimulus that awakens or worsens the symptoms of a traumatic event or mental health condition.

A person’s strong reaction to being triggered may come as a surprise to others because the response seems out of proportion to the stimulus.

But this is because the triggered individual is mentally reliving the original trauma.

For example, an adult who experienced abandonment as a child might feel triggered from an unanswered text.

The uncertainty of why they didn’t receive a response may cause them to relive feelings of abandonment.

- Psych Central

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