Any number of things can be triggers, from things like smells to anniversaries. Janina Fisher, in her workbook Transforming the Living Legacy of Trauma, specifies seven things as “huge” triggers for trauma survivors.
As you think about them, are any of these triggers for you? How does it feel to know that it’s not just you, that many trauma survivors also find these things to be extremely triggering? You are not being overly sensitive. You are not over-reacting. You are triggered.
They are:
- disappointment
- being told “no”
- not being understood
- having to wait
- being ignored
- being noticed
- not being believed or taken seriously
As you look at this list, you can see that these are often common experiences of children experiencing abuse and neglect.