What Are Triggers Really?

The Hidden Dangers of Overusing the Word “Triggered”

“That triggered me.”

“I can’t handle this – it’s so triggering.”

“I was completely triggered by what they said.”

In modern culture, the term ‘triggered’ has become a catch-all phrase to describe any emotional reaction, discomfort, or upset. It’s used in therapy, social media, and everyday conversation, often framing emotional responses as external events that happen to us – as if we are powerless over them.

But what are triggers really? And is the widespread use of this term empowering or limiting us?

I’d like to break it down from an Energy-Flow Coaching perspective.

1) What Is a Trigger?

From a psychological and neurobiological standpoint, a trigger is an external stimulus that activates an internal emotional or physiological response.

It might be:

  • A word someone says.
  • A tone of voice that reminds you of a past experience.
  • A physical sensation (like a tight chest or nausea).
  • A situation that mirrors an old emotional wound.

The key distinction is that the reaction is happening inside you, not outside you.

Triggers are not the event itself – they are the way your nervous system reacts based on your innate ‘wiring’ and past conditioning.

2) The Problem With the Word ‘Triggered’

The way we talk about being triggered is often passive and disempowering:

🔴 “I was triggered” → suggests I had no control over the experience.

🔴 “You triggered me” → implies someone else is responsible for my emotions.

🔴 “That was a triggering situation” → assumes all people should have the same reaction to an event.

This externalises emotional responsibility – it places the power outside of us rather than within us.

🔹 I prefer the word ‘activated’. Why? Because it reflects a neutral state change in the body and mind, rather than a victim-based narrative.

3) Activation vs. Triggering: A Shift in Power

When you say:

✅ “That conversation activated something in me.”

✅ “I felt a strong emotional response come up.”

✅ “I noticed discomfort arise in my body.”

These statements shift you from victimhood to empowerment.

They:

  • Acknowledge the body’s reaction without blaming external circumstances.
  • Create space between stimulus and response, giving you the ability to choose how to engage.
  • Encourage curiosity rather than avoidance, helping you explore why a reaction arose.

4) Why Overusing ‘Triggered’ Can Be Harmful

The widespread use of trigger language in modern dialogue has led to three major problems:

1️⃣ Triggers Become Justifications for Avoidance

Many people assume that if something is triggering, it should be avoided. But avoidance does not resolve emotional patterns – it actually reinforces them.

Example:

  • If someone says, “That conversation about success triggers my imposter syndrome” and avoids the topic, their emotional pattern remains unchallenged.
  • However, if they say, “That conversation activated some self-doubt in me – why is that?”, they are exploring, not avoiding.

2️⃣ Triggers Can Be Used to Control Dialogue

In public discourse, people sometimes use “I’m triggered” as a way to shut down conversations. But emotional discomfort does not mean something is dangerous – it just means something is active.

We need to differentiate between:

✅ Genuine emotional wounds that need healing

❌ Using ‘triggering’ as an excuse to avoid difficult conversations

3️⃣ It Keeps Us Locked in Old Trauma Loops

Being stuck in a cycle of constant triggering means the nervous system never learns how to regulate. Instead of seeing activation as an opportunity for healing, it becomes a reason to retreat.

I think we need to see these instances as opportunities – they show us where energy is stuck and where healing is possible.

5) What to Do Instead: A More Empowered Approach

The next time you feel ‘triggered’, try this:

1️⃣ Notice the Sensation First

  • Where do you feel it in your body?
  • Is it tightness, heat, pressure?
  • Can you breathe into it?

2️⃣ Separate Reaction From Meaning

  • Is this reaction about the present moment, or is it an old imprint?
  • What emotion is at the root—anger, fear, sadness?

3️⃣ Reframe the Language Instead of “I was triggered,” try:

✅ “I felt a strong emotional activation.”

✅ “Something inside me responded to that situation.”

✅ “I’m experiencing an old emotional pattern.”

This shifts you from powerlessness to presence.

Final Thoughts

The term ‘triggered’ has become too normalised, often reinforcing passivity, avoidance, and blame. By shifting to “activated” and taking responsibility for our internal state, we become more resilient, more self-aware, and more empowered.

👉 Next time you feel triggered, pause and ask: What is this activation teaching me?