What Does It Mean to Be Triggered? 2024

What Does It Mean To Be Triggered?

In this video I get into the mechanics of our childhood trauma triggers, how to name them, how to recognize them and what to do about the present.

In this video we cover: triggers, 80/20, toxic family systems, boundaries, truth, childhood trauma, inner child, inner child work, c-ptsd, ptsd, toxic parents, narcissistic abuse, healing, abusive parents, emotional abuse, childhood ptsd, repressed memories, hypervigilance, narcissistic parents, emotionally abusive parents, child abuse, narcissistic father, childhood emotional neglect, abuse, narcissistic mother, alcoholism, scapegoat, genogram, siblings, dissociation, trauma

Chapters:
0:00 Intro
0:17 What Does It Mean to Be Triggered?
0:39 What is a Trigger?
2:24 Hypothetical Example
5:51 A Deeper Look...
7:30 Another Way to Look At It
9:16 Reflective Tips
11:24 Some Take Aways
12:13 Connect With Me
12:32 Outro

Learn more about Patrick Teahan,
Childhood Trauma Resources and Offerings

This is the first of a series I will be doing on the concept of triggers.

Some clarifications up front:

*Feeling the charge" of childhood takes time and is best done in safety with a therapist or support group. If feeling the emotions from
childhood is overwhelming or if you don't know what they are (both common) perhaps seek time with a skilled therapist.

*Some example triggers.
- Feeling left out.
- Other people's upset.
- Feeling like other's are insensitive / oblivious.
- Not feeling seen or efforts noticed.
- Mistakes.
- Confusing assertion with "being mean."
- Situations that involve fairness.

Hope the video is helpful!

Patrick Teahan LICSW

MUSIC IS BY:

Chris Haugen - Ibiza Dream

⚠️ Disclaimer

My videos are for educational purposes only. Information provided on this channel is not intended to be a substitute for in person professional medical advice. It is not intended to replace the services of a therapist, physician, or other qualified professional, nor does it constitute a therapist-client or physician or quasi-physician relationship.

If you are, or someone you know, is in immediate danger, please call a local emergency telephone number or go immediately to the nearest emergency room.

If you are having emotional distress, please utilize 911 or the National Suicide Hotline
1-800-273-8255

[francistindal]

For me the most difficult part is getting out of the triggered state because even though my mind knows I'm safe my body doesn't believe it yet.

[SparklesNJazz]

i just realized i’m triggered almost every day. I NEVER KNEW THIS IS WHAT IT MEANT TO BE TRIGGERED. i thought it was just me being sensitive. omg

[purplecatonbroadway]

I've only recently discovered just how deep my trauma from childhood goes. I'm 23 and found out why my body shakes, sweats, and feels hot when I speak to my father, or have a fight with my husband. It's insane how your body and subconscious can hold onto stuff from so long ago without you even realizing it.

[starlingswallow]

Being "too sensitive" has been a staple comment in my family of origin. I get triggered and then BEING triggered, it's backing up their "proof" that I'm "too sensitive". Ugh. This video has helped me much, Patrick!!♥️💕

[lionheart]

"Kate is grounded in the truth" such a soothing statement.

[mangageekgirl]

It’s taken me over 30 years to recognize that just how traumatized I actually am, and that I get triggered every day. I have these reactions that are so incredibly subtle to me (because they are so ingrained) that I had no idea that that was the case, but I have begun to recognize them. I am so glad to have this and other videos here on YouTube!

[audenderksen]

"Had to be perfect to survive emotionally." Well then, that makes me want to think a lot about what behaviours around me that enforced this perfectionism in me. Very eye opening, good video!

[clairobics]

I really appreciate this. too often CPTSD symptoms are listed only as the extreme ones; flashbacks, somatic disturbance, etc but what about if you have faced and healed some of your trauma and are high functioning but still have triggers that manifest in more subtle ways? The overthinking and over 'checking' resonated with me, as did the self-blame. I found this helpful; to realise to accept and observe triggers for what they are rather than beating myself up about personality or other such constructs. SO important for survivors ( CSA survivor here) to have people around them that understand trauma in therapy, rather than face the risk of secondary abuse where mental health professionals just don't understand about triggers or trauma.

[alau]

Heat, being a body trigger. I have felt that so often but never put the two things together. The rush of heat when I'm triggered. Now I need to identify what that means. What the trigger is and where it comes from in my childhood.

[helenmatthews]

This is like an 'emotional flashback' from Complex Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (Pete Walker). Very good to know about this and helps me keep calm when I have a charge of shame.

[mrs.quills]

Reverse the mother and father and this is literally me. I apologize, have shame and overexplain.

I really liked how you summed this up, that our responses saved us, but now no longer serve us.

I always beat myself up for my triggers or body responses, but like it’s not my fault, it was the shitty circumstances. It’s because of your channel I finally am meeting with someone (I had a therapist in the past, but they weren’t helpful and even laughed at me at one point so I didn’t feel safe).

I was told to look for private therapists on psychology today and found a lot of ones who take my insurance. I really hope they can help me this time.

[bluepotato]

I'm still a teen, but I'm just starting to discover that some not okay things happened in my childhood, these videos are helping me realize how my past is affecting me now. Especially the childhood PTSD questionnaire, because it put words to my situation. I have a tricky family, the trauma isn't easy to spot, and having someone else say these situations exist helped me not brush off more red flags.
TLDR: These videos help me a lot. Thank you for making them!

[BlackOreoCookie]

Apparently I'm triggered all the time. I thought this was just my personality 😅

[lifeisbeautiful]

Having plowed through “tons” of information on adult child issues in therapy, books, 12 step programs and YouTube, I’ve come away from those resources with a greater knowledge base and insight as to why I am how I am as well as how I how arrived here. The piece I’ve always struggled with is pinning down the emotional mechanism contained in the triggered reaction itself and how to MANAGE myself when they occur.

Your video here is a lantern in the dark for me. I’m going to write down the steps you’ve presented here so that I can recognize when I’m triggered, stay with it, put it in perspective and know that OFTEN in present all is well or at least not as bad as my compulsivity to over-respond would indicate.

I see where I’ve often been my worst enemy isolating in self protectiveness for such long periods that it’s cost me a great deal relationally, with my health both mental and physical and as far as having hope that I would ever feel strong or good enough to have an enjoyable richer experience in life.

I’m 60+, had a career in healthcare, was married twice, have a lovely family. Laboring from the position of being mired in childhood reactions to adult situations has had a crippling effect on my life. I work hard and daily to break free. Thank you for making this video tool. It’s succinct, understandable and approachable. Thank you as well for being generous with your expertise. It is a great gift to your viewers.

[noa]

I used to be just numb to that stuff. But being numb also meant that I couldn’t experience anything happy in my relationships sind friendships either. I just didn’t care and I hurt a lot of people because of it. Now, that I’m slowly tapping into the childhood trauma work, I can now experience more and more stuff. I recently (literally two days ago) missed a friend for the first time and desire physical closeness, like a hug. But it also means, that I’m feeling myself being triggered constantly and every day is really exhausting. Some days it just becomes too much and I revert back into numbness, not caring at all to protect myself.

[synesthesian]

As soon as you started explaining Kate's past and present, I knew that I am Kate instantly.

[ironempath]

Omg, this is stuff that's actually been studied!
Why would a doctor stick you on meds and never explain this stuff?

[siiiriously]

i´ve done selfhealing traumawork since years, but your videos are really comprehensive yet detailed. even with topics i´m very versed in i still have new take aways. thank you!

[sfessaha]

This an amazing video and I love that you used a work example. After going through some CPTSD healing this year I realized that I was always triggered and dysregulated at work. I traded my toxic family for a toxic workplace. Anyway thanks again!!!

[Jardinier]

Your videos are incredibly inspiring and informative. As a survivor of childhood abuse, a man and 56 I found it incredibly difficult to admit, take action and want to heal. I so got used to depression it seemed suicide was the only answer but now confronting the past is. Thanks very much.