Trauma trigger
A trauma trigger is an event or sensory experience that reminds an individual of a past traumatic incident, often leading to the reliving of that trauma through flashbacks. These flashbacks can be vivid, causing the person to re-experience intense emotions associated with the original event, such as fear or anger. Common triggers can include specific sights, sounds, or situations, such as flashing police lights, the appearance of an ambulance, or environments reminiscent of the traumatic experience. Individuals with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) may work hard to avoid these triggers to mitigate their emotional distress. When confronted with a trigger, they may exhibit physical reactions such as a racing heart or shortness of breath. The societal response to trauma triggers has led to discussions about trigger warnings, which alert individuals to potentially distressing content in various forms of media. While some advocate for trigger warnings as a means of supporting trauma survivors, others criticize them for potentially limiting free expression and encouraging avoidance of challenging material. Understanding trauma triggers can foster a more informed and compassionate response to those affected by trauma and PTSD.
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Subject Terms
Trauma trigger
A trauma trigger is an occurrence that reminds someone of a painful and traumatic experience. The memory of the trauma, called a flashback or a memory tape, will replay in the person's mind. Flashbacks are vivid—when a person experiences one, he or she is, in a way, reliving the traumatic event. A trauma trigger can come in the form of any of the senses—sight, sound, smell, touch, or taste. However, most trauma triggers involve sights and sounds.
Common triggers include flashing police lights, the sight of an ambulance, a person who looks or acts like a previous attacker, any situation in which someone is being abused, and people crying. A place that looks like the place where the trauma occurred can also be a trigger. Fireworks are sometimes a trigger, especially to those who have fought in wars or have been victims of violence involving guns. Other times, loud, angry voices can be a trigger to those who have witnessed domestic violence and abuse.
Flashbacks evoke fear, anger, and other negative emotions in the person who experienced the trauma. Thus, some people expend a great deal of effort avoiding and removing triggers from their lives and personal space. They may avoid going to certain places, watching certain television shows and reading particular books; they may keep the noise level low in their living spaces.
Background
Trauma triggers are largely associated with post-traumatic stress disorder, often referred to as PTSD. The brain makes a connection between elements of a person's environment during the event and the event itself. These elements may later trigger a flashback. A person experiencing a flashback may shake, cry, and become still and emotionless, trapped in thoughts and memories. Flashbacks can be difficult to avoid, depending on the commonality of the trigger.
PTSD is caused by a shocking or terrifying event, usually one in which the person experiences a "fight or flight" response, a feeling of either needing to run from or fight the threat. This reaction is a self-preservative, defensive mechanism that is hardwired into people and animals to keep them safe from danger. A person undergoing this response will have a rapid heartbeat, blood sent to muscles in his or her legs to get them ready to run, and even increases in hormone production to stop bleeding and fight infection in the event of an injury.
Common causes of PTSD include being in or witnessing combat; living through domestic abuse, rape, or verbal abuse; living through a devastating car accident, natural disaster, or terrorism attack; and experiencing the sudden death of a family member or friend.
While some individuals recover from trauma, others experience PTSD for months or even years. These individuals persistently try to avoid trauma triggers. When confronted by one, they may have physical reactions such as a pounding heart, sweating, and shortness of breath. Nightmares may haunt them, preventing them from restful sleep. They may often be hyper-alert and on edge, always watching for something that may be a threat within their environment. Because of the pervasive fear in their lives, these people may be angry or become withdrawn. They may lose interest in activities that previously brought them joy. People who are afflicted with PTSD frequently experience both anxiety and depression.
Overview
Because of the harmful effects of PTSD, trigger warnings have become somewhat common in modern society. A trigger warning is a message or notice that the material within an article, a movie, a television show, or a lecture may trigger flashbacks. Trigger warnings are commonly used for material about combat and physical and sexual abuse. These warnings have been used frequently on college and university campuses. A trigger warning may be as simple as a line or two of text on a syllabus.
Trigger warnings are somewhat controversial. Those against them think they inhibit free speech. They label individuals requiring trigger warnings as being too sensitive. Some feel that trigger warnings on college and university campuses encourage students to skip class or avoid taking in information that may challenge their world views. They think trigger warnings give people an avenue to shelter themselves from ideas and information they do not like. They view trigger warnings as a way to coddle those who are easily offended instead of as a warning that material may contain information that can create a painful experience for those with PTSD. Some professors worry that trigger warnings can alter students' views of the material before they experience it and can reinforce feelings of vulnerability. They feel that trigger warnings limit the amount of material teachers can share with their students.
However, other professors argue that trigger warnings are not a license to skip class but a way to give students advance notice that what they are about to experience may provoke flashbacks in those who have PTSD. These professors want to help trauma survivors minimize emotional pain. If students are not experiencing psychological trauma, they can better handle and interpret the information. Some higher learning institutions have created safe spaces for students. A student may go to a safe space after experiencing a flashback from a trigger in the content of a course or lecture.
Trigger warnings were first used by feminist bloggers on content that described situations of rape and sexual abuse. However, they were soon used in other places; for example, they appeared on images of needles, spiders, and even consensual sex.
Bibliography
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