trigger
Last updatedWhat to know
The word “triggered” is sometimes misused as a synonym for “offended” or “upset.” Using the term this way can diminish the very real pain that people with psychiatric conditions feel when their symptoms are set off. For example, when someone with PTSD is exposed to a trigger, their body and emotions often react as if the original trauma were recurring. They may relive vivid, painful memories of the trauma, or they may develop chest pain and shortness of breath due to a panic attack. These symptoms occur owing to how the person’s memory processed (or failed to process) the event. Use of “trigger” can also sometimes extend to any stimulus that prompts severe mental health symptoms. For example, a person with bulimia may feel a strong compulsion to purge after watching a weight loss ad on TV.
Given the term’s origins in the context of trauma, when deciding whether to describe something as a trigger, it can be helpful to gut-check with yourself (or a trusted colleague) whether your usage might inadvertently trivialize the experiences of people who’ve survived trauma when something in their environment sparks extreme distress.
Additional resources
- Understanding Mental Illness Triggers (National Alliance on Mental Illness)
Summary
Trigger refers to a stimulus that leads to a strong reminder of a past trauma, such as a smell, sight, or sound. The word “triggered” is sometimes misused as a synonym for “offended” or “upset.” Using the term this way can diminish the very real pain that people with psychiatric conditions feel when their symptoms are set off.