A trigger automatically upsets or traumatizes a mental health consumer due to past trauma or their current mental health symptoms. Rather than the word “trigger,” which evokes “guns,” I prefer to use the expression “lights a match,” which I mean, of course, in a negative way. A match lights for many reasons, not all originating in past trauma. In fact, people often understand traumas to which they can relate. If that’s the case, then be upfront about what lights a match for you and request that the person refrains from starting a fire. Less easy for others to understand is match lighting for no apparent reason. In my case, black can light a match if I am doing poorly with my schizophrenia. There is no logic to it, and only the cure of being around “safe colors,” one of which is blue for me. Since I have no explanation myself, I have to ask others to accept this problem with black when it is bugging me, which isn’t all the time. Most people won’t understand, so without relying on external help, I must be vigilant and avoid black if it’s a match that may light. I am typing this post in black: the problem is not always there, and during those long periods, black retreats as a problem. If you have a match that will light due to past trauma, as I do, or phenomena that have no explanation, like my episodic problem with black, do all you can to avoid situations where these matches might light.
