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What does it mean to be "triggered" This term has been casually used to refer to the experience of having an emotional reaction to some type of disturbing content (such as violence or the mention of suicide) in the media or in another social setting. However, there is a difference between being triggered and being uncomfortable.
Feeling triggered isn't just about something rubbing you the wrong way. For someone with a history of trauma, being around anything that reminds them of a traumatic experience (also known as a "trigger") can make them feel like they're experiencing the trauma all over again.
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An internal trigger comes from within the person. It can be a memory, a physical sensation, or an emotion.
Types of internal triggers:
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External triggers come form the environment, They can be a person, place, or a specific sitation.
common things that may cause a person to feel triggered:
Think of the impact that a situaion such as the coronavirus pandemic may have obn those struggeling with mental illness.
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We don't know precisely how triggers are formed. Some researchers believe that our brains store memories from a traumatic event differently from memories of non-traumatic event.
Past traumatic events may be interperted by the brain as current. This causes the body to experience symptoms similar to the original trauma (such a the fight and flight response).
We also know that triggers can cause an emotional reaction before a person realizes why they have become upset. Often triggers have a strong sensory connection (a sight, sound, taste, or smell), or are connected in some way to a deeply ingrained habit (for example, a recovering alcoholic who associates a particular activity with drinking).
Some refer to this as "traumatic coupling," where a trigger is connected to a traumatic experience, causing you to relive symptoms.
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There has been some debate as to whether trigger warnings are helphul or harmful.
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Sometimes, it is reasonable to try and avoid triggering sitations However, if avoiding possible triggers hinders your ability to function, you should seek help.
Learning to cope with triggers you can't anticipate or avoid requires emotional processing, which is most often aided by therapy. The following are a few effective, healthy coping strategies for lessening the impact of triggers:
Empower yourself by preparing to cope with triggers. Become aware of signs in your body that you're reacting to a trigger, such as changes in your breathing so that you can learn how to calm yourself down and shift your emotional state.
Your ultimate goal should be to detach yourself from the trigger, re-center, and focus on your coping strategy.
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