Trauma triggers are reminders — sometimes loud and direct, sometimes small and invisible — that can pull a survivor instantly back into the fear or helplessness of their past. It might be a smell, a sound, a phrase, a piece of clothing, or even a feeling in the pit of the stomach. A survivor doesn’t choose what triggers them, and they often don’t see it coming.
As a survivor myself, I know what it feels like when the world around you suddenly shifts and your body reacts as if the trauma is happening all over again. The brain is working hard to protect us — scanning for danger long after we are safe — so when it senses a reminder, it goes into survival mode.
Triggers can lead to:
- Rapid heartbeat or panic
- Anger or irritability
- Numbness or shutting down
- Flashbacks or intrusive memories
- Wanting to run or hide without knowing why
But healing doesn’t mean never being triggered again. Healing means having the tools, the support, and the compassion for yourself to ground back into the present — to remind your body and brain:
“I survived. I am safe now.”
And every time a survivor comes out the other side of a trigger, that’s strength in action.
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