The term “triggered” is sometimes used casually to refer to any situation that leads to emotional distress. But for people who have experienced trauma, triggers cause thoughts, memories, and feelings that generate an unexpected and often intense emotional or physical response. Triggers can make a person feel as though they are in danger or are reliving their past trauma.1
What is a Trigger?
A trigger is a situation, memory, object, location, or person that prompts a strong or unexpected emotional reaction or causes someone to experience memories of previous trauma.2 Anything can be a trauma trigger—a specific sound, song, clothing item, smell, or place can cause a reaction. Triggers are unique to the person who has experienced trauma, so what may trigger one person may not trigger another person with trauma. For instance, for someone who survived a fire, the smell of a smoky grill could be triggering. A touch on the back can trigger someone who was attacked from behind. The anniversary date of a traumatic event, such as September 11, can be a trigger. The sound of fireworks are a known trigger for many combat veterans and shooting victims.3
What Happens When Someone Encounters a Trigger?
Being triggered is more than just a brief emotional disturbance. For people who have experienced trauma, a trigger sets off a series of bodily and mental reactions that replicate the initial trauma and induce the body’s “fight or flight” response. Symptoms can include a rapid heartbeat, sweating, a panic attack, an overwhelming urge to run or escape, physical tension (such as clenching the jaw or fists), outbursts of anger or sadness, a flashback, or an intense feeling of fear—or a combination of these. Essentially, the person feels as though they are reliving the traumatic moment, including its associated distress and terror.
Emotional flooding is one of the key elements of a trauma trigger. When a trigger is activated, a trauma survivor may become swamped by their emotions, finding it difficult to manage or navigate the surge. This is an overwhelming state that can incapacitate the person who was triggered. Emotional flooding helps explain why people may have such intense reactions to triggers that appear minor on the surface.4 After being triggered, it can take a significant amount of time for the nervous system to recover.1
What Is a Trigger Warning?
A trigger warning is a message placed at the beginning of various forms of content, such as articles, videos, or other media, to alert viewers about the presence of sensitive themes. This precaution is often taken when the material includes elements that might act as trauma triggers due to their explicit references, portrayals, or discussions.
Trigger warnings are beneficial not only for individuals coping with anxiety or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) but also for those who, despite lacking personal trauma history, may be vulnerable to distressing imagery or narratives. Incorporating trigger warnings is especially prudent for content that is widely accessible. The warning gives potential audience members an opportunity to prepare for or bypass material that may be unsettling to them.2
How to Deal With Triggers
Triggers prompt an unexpected response. So, the most important way to deal with a trauma trigger is to recognize the trigger. Then you’ll have the ability to understand your reaction and work to manage it. Many mental health professionals recommend keeping a journal, so that after you feel triggered, you can jot down what you heard, saw, smelled, and encountered, as well as how you felt. This gives you the opportunity to make connections and begin to identify your triggers.1
If you have difficulty determining what your triggers are, a mental health professional can support you in identifying them. A counselor can also help you learn strategies to put into practice if and when you encounter triggers. With professional support, you can decrease the severity and frequency of triggers and feel better day by day.
What Is a Clinical Mental Health Counselor?
Clinical mental health counselors evaluate, diagnose, and provide therapy for clients so they can experience a greater feeling of well-being. In the United States, a master’s degree is typically needed to work in the mental health field as a counselor. Mental health counselors work with individuals of all ages, couples, and families, and they also serve as advocates for the mental health needs of their clients and their communities.
Walden University’s MS in Clinical Mental Health Counseling program is accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP). Earning a degree from a CACREP-accredited program fulfills the academic requirements of many state counseling boards for licensure. Students in this online counseling master’s degree program can choose the Trauma and Crisis Counseling specialization or one of several others, including Addiction Counseling, Forensic Counseling, or Marriage, Couple, and Family Counseling.
During crises or in the aftermath of trauma, the expertise of skilled counseling professionals becomes invaluable for both individuals and communities on the path to recovery. Walden’s Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling program with a specialization in Trauma and Crisis Counseling equips students with the essential counseling techniques and foundational knowledge to facilitate healing from trauma and to aid in community crisis intervention.
This master’s degree in counseling program is designed to deliver the core theories, intervention methods, and therapeutic models crucial for providing effective counseling and support to individuals and families in crisis. The curriculum covers crisis management in depth, including the leadership competencies required to assist communities in designing and implementing robust crisis management plans and trauma care services. Through this online counseling program, you can work to empower others to find hope and healing from the effects of trauma.
Walden University is an accredited institution offering an MS in Clinical Mental Health Counseling degree program online. Earn your degree in a convenient, flexible format that fits your busy life.
1Source: psychcentral.com/health/trauma-triggers
2Source: www.betterup.com/blog/triggers
3Source: www.webmd.com/mental-health/what-are-ptsd-triggers
4Source: www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2024/jan/15/a-trigger-can-provoke-a-powerful-emotional-reaction-but-using-trauma-language-too-casually-can-diminish-its-gravity
Note on Licensure
Walden University’s MS in Clinical Mental Health Counseling program is accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP), a specialized accrediting body recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA), which is a requirement for licensure in many states. The MS in Clinical Mental Health Counseling program is designed to prepare graduates to qualify to sit for licensing exams and to meet the academic licensure requirements of many state counseling boards. Because no graduate program can guarantee licensure upon graduation, we encourage students to consult the appropriate agency to determine specific requirements. For more information about licensure, students should visit the National Board for Certified Counselors at www.nbcc.org/stateboard, the American Association of State Counseling Boards at www.aascb.org, and contact the appropriate licensing body. International students are encouraged to identify and contact their appropriate licensing body. Learn more about professional licensure.
Walden University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (www.hlcommission.org), an institutional accreditation agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.