A trigger is YOUR problem

I have always disliked triggers. To be more specific, I've disliked the word trigger. And I realize it's because they have been so overused. But even more than that, the word has been used ... incorrectly. If you don't like something, you can say it triggers you, and suddenly you are allowed to avoid the said thing. But that really isn't what triggers are about.

The truth is, if something triggers you, the "fault" lies with you. The need to fix it lies with YOU. You are being triggered and the trigger owns you. And it doesn't have to keep triggering you! You don't have to live with this forever. 

That isn't to say you have done something wrong if you are triggered. It is simply something that is coming up from your past. Your brain doesn't tell time. When the amygdalia gets input in, its job is to protect you. It goes on high alert and says, "We remember that this feeling equals something bad! We don't want you to be hurt again! We are TRIGGERED!" That trigger is telling you that something is wrong and you need to be careful.

 

That's what the amygdalia does! It says "We remember something bad. We want you to be careful to never feel the way you did in the past." This trigger is telling your body "Be careful!" In some cases, this is good. Remembering that something burned you will keep you from touching something hot again. And if you don't pay attention, it will make you pay attention! It will increase your breathing or give you muscle aches.

 

That's the whole thing! The trigger is triggering you to something that isn't real! It's a fake threat. So as you complain to people telling them to not "trigger you", what you actually want is for them to not sound your alarms. And that's about your alarms, not them doing anything wrong. 

 

And of course, we aren't talking about just not liking certain content. There are some people who don't want to hear about brutality against children. It bothers them. A trigger is another level. A trigger is something that affects your body and stays with you for a long time.

 

 

You can heal these patterns! It's what I've been working on for the last year of my life. You don't have to just "deal" with this forever. You don't have to be just battling your anxiety for the rest of your life. It can go away. You can heal! In my case I used a combination of EMDR, Christian Counseling, and my own study of "Story Work." (I encourage you to visit adamyoungcounseling.com) for more information on the "Story Work" aspect.