Whether we are aware of it or not, at some point in our lives we develop triggers tied into something we have experienced in our past. Another identifying word associated with triggers is known as “stressors”. These are situations or actions that lead to an adverse emotional reaction.

In the mental health realm, stressors are not talked about often enough in terms of prevention – the conversation typically occurs after the individual has reacted. Helping people name and work through their stressors can be extremely helpful and empowering.

Types of triggers:

There are 4 commonly known types of triggers that can be caused by various stimuli. These can vary depending on the individual’s past experiences.

1. External triggers; most commonly associated with the senses (sight, smell, sound, taste etc). For example; smelling cologne of an abusive ex-partner could trigger unpleasant thoughts of memories of their time together.

2. Internal triggers are explained as bold feelings that emerge based on past experiences. For example; making a doctor’s appointment when you’ve had a negative medical experience can trigger feelings of fear.

3. Trauma triggers are strong feelings that are brought on by past trauma. For example; the sound of fireworks could bring flashbacks to a veteran.

4. Symptom triggers are classified as physical and emotional changes that can trigger larger mental health issues (lack of sleep etc.)

No trigger is too small to be treated seriously; for some people it will lead them to have big negative feelings/thoughts or even lead to self-harm.

How to identify and cope with your triggers:

There are many ways to learn how to identify and cope with your triggers but all should focus on reducing the impact of the trigger and strengthening their emotional response.

1. Identify your triggers by taking some time to observe previous occurrences where you have been triggered and focus on the who, what, where, when and why of that event. Take note of recurring patterns to narrow down what triggers keep resurfacing.

2. Find a mental health professional that you feel comfortable talking with to further work through your coping skills. Making a space that you feel comfortable talking with a registered professional can help validate your experience and make a plan to address your trigger(s)

3. Look for trigger warnings on social media, television content and even books can have trigger warnings at the beginning to warn people of potential triggers. Try to avoid any content that you feel could cause an intense emotional reaction from consuming that content.

4.  Practice self-care. Taking the steps to identify and work through your triggers is a huge accomplishment that anyone deserves a pat on the back for. Whether it is talking to someone you love, journaling, taking time for yourself etc; it is important to take a break for your mental health.