Trigger

[JigsawAnalogy]

I've seen this defined in two somewhat different ways. I'm wondering how people here use the word, and what it means in relation to DID/MPD, or to survivors of abuse in general.

[JigsawAnalogy]

I define "trigger" as "something that causes a flashback or panic attack." It's something that will bring up a memory, or bring up intense anxiety that I know from experience is related to the past.

When I say that I am "triggered" or "triggery" I mean that I am in a state where I am more likely to experience triggers as flashbacks or panic attacks, and where more things are likely to *cause* flashbacks or panic attacks. At these times, I know to avoid things like other people's descriptions of their abuse, or movies that are violent, or similar stuff.

[Battle_Weary]

We see trigger as something that causes a flashback, panic attack, unexpected feeling, memory not in the form of a flashback, or an abrupt, unexpected switch (usually an indication that one is triggered while another may not be).

[PeaceByPiece]

We define a trigger as whatever the catalyst was that set off an 'explosion'.

A trigger on a gun discharges a bullet. If we liken that to a trigger that sets off an explosion in the mind (in terms of flashbacks, bad memories, body memories, or whatever), then it is exactly as it indicates, something that causes an abrupt and often unexpected force via a blast of emotion.

A trigger is something that affects all five senses:
Triggers are
*seeing the person who perpetuated the most abuse.
*hearing a song that was playing when abuse occurred.
*feeling a prickle or tingle on the skin that occurs concurrently with a feeling of fear
*smelling a food that the abuser preferred to eat, despite being undesirable (or not...)
*tasting something that is reminiscent of the abuse or abuser.

That is what triggers mean to us.