In mental health, a “trigger” is a painful, overwhelming memory linked to a significant traumatic experience that sets off an intense negative emotional reaction in individuals, as if they’re in harm’s way even if they’re not, causing their body to go into a fight-or-flight (or even freeze, fawn, or flop) response.
People who suffer from PTSD and/or panic attacks can get “triggered” by anything from specific smells, sounds, sights, visual images, foods, words, people, dates/anniversaries (i.e. losing a loved one), and events (i.e. abuse, military combat).
“Triggered” has become such a buzzword on the Internet, and while most probably have no ill intention when saying it, what they completely overlook is the fact that their choice of words makes light of (serious) mental health conditions some people experience daily.
Personally, I believe the word “triggered” is often used when what they might actually mean is “offended” or “upsetting”. By no means am I invalidating or undermining anyone’s negative experience or emotional pain, but as someone diagnosed with autonomic dysfunction who has suffered from panic attacks and anxiety for more than half of my life due to childhood trauma, there’s a massive difference between being upset by someone/something and being reminded or having to relive past traumatic experiences.
So instead of throwing this word around in our day-to-day conversations to describe negative emotional reaction, let’s be more mindful about our choice of words.
Here are some alternatives you can use:
• “pushes my buttons”
• “upsets”
• ”offended”
• “affects me emotionally”
• “drives me to shut down”
P.S. Death-related phrases like “kill me now,” “this is killing me,” and “I’m dying to…” are also very triggering for people (🙋🏻♀️) who have gone (or are still going) through depression. But let’s save this discussion for another time…