What does being triggered mean, exactly?
As a psychologist, in my opinion, being triggered might refer to the intense emotions or emotional reactions that tend to arise due to any situation and impact your current mood. This can be sudden memories of something or someone, events, past experiences, violence, horrible topics discussed over the media, etc.
What kind of sliding scale do triggers exist on?
From my experiences, triggers can be internal or external. Internal triggers stem from memories, and emotions like anger, loneliness, anxiety, pain, sadness, etc. External triggers are stimulated by one’s surroundings, situation, place, or people.
What are the differences between being triggered and having strong feelings?
Being triggered is a kind of emotional response towards specific issues that spike intense emotions. Having strong feelings implies that you have a real affection for someone or something you like, want, or think of.
Unlike being triggered, which demands some factors for emotions to develop, having strong feelings occurs naturally in the brain as one is attached or obsessed with something or people.
What are the best ways to cope with legit triggering episodes?
I recommend identifying the type or cause of your emotional triggers and what happens during the episodes. Accept and learn to express your feelings, find some space away from the trigger, have an open mind in tackling the trigger, try to feed the brain with positive emotions, thoughts or do something good, communicate to those close to you how you feel, seek a psychologist remedy and track your feelings, mood or emotions.
Ways to recognize when someone else might be triggered and what are the best ways to support them through the episode
I suggest you check on the following warning signs, change in body behavior such as being sweaty, aggressive, isolating themselves, sudden mood swings, emotionally down, or argumentativeness. Please support them by asking how they feel and helping them own their emotions or feelings, take them away from the triggers, give them some alone time and incorporate actions or habits that make them happy.
