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- [Narrator] Hey, Psych2Goers.
Welcome back to another video.
Before we start,
we would like to thank you all for the support
that you've given us.
Psych2Go's mission is to make psychology
and mental health more accessible to everyone
and you help us do that, so thank you.
Now, back to the video.
Have you ever seen, smelled or heard something
that caused you to have a mental breakdown?
An emotional trigger is an event that evokes
a usually negative emotional reaction.
It can cause flashbacks,
which make it seem like you're reliving
your past traumatic event.
The experience can feel frightening and exhausting
and you may not even be aware
that you're emotionally triggered.
So to help you become more aware and prepared,
we've made this video to help you recognize eight signs
that you may be emotionally triggered.
Before we begin, we would like to mention that this video
is created for educational purposes only
and is not intended to substitute a professional diagnosis.
If you suspect you may have emotional triggers,
we highly advise you to seek help
from a qualified mental health professional.
With that said, let's begin.
Number one, you feel distant from reality.
Have you ever dissociated or felt distanced from reality?
Dissociation is the feeling of being disconnected
from your body or from the world around you.
There are different types of dissociation
such as depersonalization,
which is having out-of-body experiences,
derealization, where you see the world as a dream,
dissociative amnesia, identity confusion, and others.
Dissociation is also a symptom
of post-traumatic stress disorder,
which develops as a result of trauma
and includes intense reactions to emotional triggers.
Number two, you're easily irritated.
Are you suddenly bothered by things
that don't usually irritate you?
Maybe it's frustration over getting stuck in traffic
when you usually enjoy the commute
or feeling impatient when your close friends are talking.
If you find yourself more annoyed than usual,
especially at the people you love,
you may be experiencing annoyance
as a coping mechanism to keep yourself
from reacting to an emotional trigger.
Number three, you avoid specific people, places or things.
Do you go out of your way to avoid certain people or places?
While it's pretty common to avoid
a significant other after a breakup
or a friend after a fight
because you know seeing them
will bring back unwanted memories or create conflict.
People with emotional triggers might also avoid places
where a traumatic event occurred,
events with loud noises
or strangers who look like people
who are part of the traumatic event.
Simple everyday actions might also be a trigger,
especially for people with PTSD.
Number four, you feel overwhelmed.
Do you find it hard to stay on task
or to interact with a lot of people?
Feeling overwhelmed by everyday tasks
that are easy to accomplish
may be a sign that you are emotionally triggered.
While this feeling of being overwhelmed
can also be an effect of depression, anxiety, or ADHD.
If you continue to have a problem maintaining
a daily routine for months
or even years after a traumatic event,
then it may be likely you're emotionally triggered
or are suffering from PTSD.
Number five, you feel panicked or anxious.
Do you experience heightened feelings of anxiety
or have frequent panic attacks?
Some symptoms of a panic attack
include increased heart rate,
difficulty breathing, chest pains,
and the experience of intense fear.
While panic attacks can be a sign of an anxiety disorder,
increased anxiety about a specific event,
especially when connected to past trauma
or activities you used to enjoy,
may be a sign that you're emotionally triggered instead.
Number six, you distrust others or feel threatened.
Are you suspicious of others or feel unsafe
in low-risk situations?
Trust issues can develop from trauma
and make you irrationally suspicious of everyone.
This belief that others will harm you
or do something that will trigger you is also a likely sign
that you may be emotionally triggered.
Number seven, you have trouble sleeping.
Do you have trouble sleeping?
People who are emotionally triggered
or who have been diagnosed with PTSD
may have trouble sleeping
as a result of a traumatic event for a few reasons.
Trauma experienced during the night
may cause you to have an emotional reaction
during nighttime.
Having reoccurring nightmares or experiencing flashbacks
when you try to sleep may also make it more difficult
for you to rest during the evening.
And number eight, you worry about having a breakdown.
Do you live in fear that someone
or something will cause you to lose control of your emotions
or have an emotional breakdown?
Having a public breakdown
is often a traumatic event in itself,
and it can trigger other emotions
such as anger, fear, or emotional pain.
While you may be aware of your reoccurring triggers,
unknown triggers may pop up in conversations,
new environments, or repress thoughts
that resurface causing feelings of intense anxiety
and worry.
Did you relate to any of these signs?
Tell us in the comments below.
If you think you might have emotional triggers,
talking to a therapist, friend
or family member about it can help.
Therapists or other licensed mental health professionals
can also help you recognize the events that caused you
to be emotionally triggered and help you work through them
to begin the healing process.
We at Psych2Go support you in your journey
and encourage you to keep learning about mental health.
If you found this video helpful,
please like and share it with others
who may find it useful too.
All the references used are also added
in the description box below.
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Thank you so much for watching
and we'll see you in the next one.