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Okay here’s my important thread of discussing triggers, explaining them and talking about misconceptions.
Written by someone with PTSD.
Written by someone with PTSD.
First I want to clarify what a trigger is in the context of mental health, and there are different definitions. For now I’ll go with the PTSD example
It’s when you experience (see, hear, etc.) a thing that causes your body/mind to react as if you’re in the traumatic event again
It’s when you experience (see, hear, etc.) a thing that causes your body/mind to react as if you’re in the traumatic event again
For example, due to a personal traumatic event with me, I cannot handle neck injuries being explicitly shown or mentioned. It causes my body (and even mind) to react as if I’m going through what happened to me again.
Some days one might react stronger than others, and sometimes being triggered too harshly can lead to severe consequences such as extreme pain or drastic actions. There are times where one may need to be straight-up hospitalized.
TW: Eating disorder and alcohol mentions
As mentioned before, PTSD is not the only thing that can get triggered. Eating disorders can be triggered by food where one may act upon it again. Witnessing the usage of alcohol may trigger addictive behaviors.
As mentioned before, PTSD is not the only thing that can get triggered. Eating disorders can be triggered by food where one may act upon it again. Witnessing the usage of alcohol may trigger addictive behaviors.
Anxiety could be triggered by being yelled at, resulting in a severe panic attack. A song that an abuser played could trigger panic from memories of being abused
I’m sure by now you see my point. There are many ways to be triggered.
Now onto the misconceptions.
I’m sure by now you see my point. There are many ways to be triggered.
Now onto the misconceptions.
1. “If you had ___ happen to you, shouldn’t you be triggered by ___?”
The thing is, figuring out what triggers you have is difficult, and not every single thing related to a traumatic event would trigger someone. It’s more complex than that.
The thing is, figuring out what triggers you have is difficult, and not every single thing related to a traumatic event would trigger someone. It’s more complex than that.
2. “Oh so you’re saying ___ shouldn’t exist?”
No, not at all. Pieces of media with my triggers can exist. I just personally cannot witness them and it’s just considerate for my friends to tag them. I don’t expect everyone to know my triggers. No one expects *everyone* to know.
No, not at all. Pieces of media with my triggers can exist. I just personally cannot witness them and it’s just considerate for my friends to tag them. I don’t expect everyone to know my triggers. No one expects *everyone* to know.
3. “But what if ___ is a trigger for someone?”
Then if you know someone with that trigger, be considerate, no matter how “ridiculous” it is for you. You just have to be considerate for that specific person. Allow that person to take their precautions.
Then if you know someone with that trigger, be considerate, no matter how “ridiculous” it is for you. You just have to be considerate for that specific person. Allow that person to take their precautions.
4. “Have you tried exposure-“
Stop right there. No. Buckle up for this one, because it’s especially important. Forcing exposure *absolutely does not* help someone with triggers. Exposure therapy should strictly be done with a professional and when the patient is prepared for it.
Stop right there. No. Buckle up for this one, because it’s especially important. Forcing exposure *absolutely does not* help someone with triggers. Exposure therapy should strictly be done with a professional and when the patient is prepared for it.
The exposure of the trauma/addition/etc. is what caused the person to be triggered in the first place. Excessive exposure will only make it worse and cause more mental problems, and leads to them being more easily triggered.
It is much better to be able to talk through and-
It is much better to be able to talk through and-
-explore things related to the trigger before the actual exposure can begin. In my personal experience with having trauma for over a decade, excessive unnecessary exposure *always* made it a thousand times worse.
What often helps a lot of people with trauma is taking time away from the trigger so that they can learn coping tools to relax, then they become less likely to be severely set off. If a friend asks you to tag things for their trigger, *never* encourage exposure unless that-
-person has access to therapy that is able to give exposure therapy *AND* the person is in a position where exposure therapy can be an option.
5. “Your trigger is ridiculous!”
Okay maybe it’s not always worded like that, however, this leads into my point that absolutely no one can choose their triggers. No one chooses mental illness. No one. Not ever.
Okay maybe it’s not always worded like that, however, this leads into my point that absolutely no one can choose their triggers. No one chooses mental illness. No one. Not ever.
They wish the trigger(s) can go away as well, but the most you can do for your friends with triggers is to respect them. It is not censoring yourself because you’re still allowed to discuss the triggering topic in places away from the friend(s) with the trigger(s).
Tagging on Twitter and telling your friends what to mute/using the spoilers feature on Discord and giving a TW is especially helpful.
You get to show/discuss the topic that’s triggering for them, and they can avoid a bad situation.
You get to show/discuss the topic that’s triggering for them, and they can avoid a bad situation.
TL;DR
Please be considerate of your friends with triggers. It won’t affect you negatively. Sorry this thread was long, but this needed to be said.
Please be considerate of your friends with triggers. It won’t affect you negatively. Sorry this thread was long, but this needed to be said.
