When someone experiences an environmental cue related to the trauma this can trigger an involuntary stress response.

When people are suffering from the effects of trauma, their stress response system tends to be constantly on because they fear for their safety and instinctively want to protect themselves. This can result in behaviours that disturb, offend or alienate others; affecting their ability to form healthy relationships.

Recognising fight, flight, freeze and fawn responses

Feeling triggered isn t just about something upsetting

you or making you feel uncomfortable. For someone

with a history of trauma, being around anything that reminds

them of a traumatic experience can make them feel like

they re experiencing the trauma all over again.

What does triggering mean?

Fight Triggers can be internal or external

Freeze Flight Fawn