Understanding Triggers
2:51
Companion Slides
Sensory cues that activate the trauma alarm — sounds, smells, dates, situations.
Key Concepts
- Triggers as conditioned associations — Pavlov's bell for trauma
- Types: sensory (sounds, smells), situational, relational, calendar
- Triggers bypass rational thought — straight to the amygdala
- They can be obvious or deeply hidden
- Recognizing vs. judging triggered responses
Part of
Module 2: How Trauma Shows Up
Recognizing trauma responses in behavior, across ages, in the body, and through a trauma-informed lens.