What Happens When PTSD Is Triggered?

Post-traumatic stress disorder generally refers to a mental health condition that can develop after one experiences or witnesses a traumatic event like a natural disaster, war, sexual abuse, or another situation that causes intense fear, helplessness, anger, or other unsettling emotions. These experiences can later be triggered and re-experienced through flashbacks or vivid memories. 

What happens when PTSD is triggered? Intense emotions may be evoked by certain images, smells, sounds, places, or people that serve as PTSD triggers, potentially summoning memories of the event that took place. Due to the disturbing nature of these memories, many people try to avoid potential triggers. Exposure therapy, eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR), and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) can be effective forms of treatment.

PTSD symptoms

Fear can be seen as a natural part of the body’s “fight-or-flight” response, often prompting a range of emotions, especially in those who have experienced trauma. While some people recover from trauma over time, others continue to experience distressing symptoms for an extended period.

Symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder, when left unaddressed, can be detrimental to a person’s quality of life. Research indicates that PTSD can be associated with a reduced ability to experience positive emotions. 

Diagnosing PTSD after a traumatic event

Usually, a PTSD diagnosis involves the following symptoms:

• At least one re-experiencing symptom, such as flashbacks or recurring memories
• At least one avoidance symptom, such as avoiding people, places, and events that may act as reminders of the trauma, or avoiding feelings and thoughts associated with the event
• At least two arousal and reactivity symptoms, such as experiencing sleep disturbances, being easily startled, feeling tense, irritable, or prone to angry outbursts, or engaging in self-destructive behavior
• At least two mood and cognition symptoms, such as pessimism about oneself and the world, social isolation, self-blame, ongoing negative emotions, or difficulty recalling important parts of the event

Common PTSD triggers

Common PTSD triggers may involve those discussed below, among others:

• Auditory triggers, such as the sound of screeching tires in connection with a car accident
• Olfactory triggers, such as the smell of burnt wood in connection to a fire
• Specific locations, such as the place where the trauma occurred
• Anniversaries of the event 
• People associated with the event
• Reading or consuming media about similar events

Mental health treatment for PTSD 

Treatment for PTSD can take many forms, including therapy, prescription medication, and support groups. It can be important to seek out a mental health professional who specializes in PTSD and trauma-related concerns. 

Below are several therapeutic approaches that can address PTSD:

Managing PTSD triggers with exposure therapy

Exposure therapy generally aims to help people manage fear and reduce distressing symptoms through gradual exposure to PTSD triggers. One may be prompted to think about the event, write about the experience, or revisit the place where the trauma occurred in a safe and guided way. 

Understanding cognitive restructuring for PTSD symptoms and treatment

Cognitive restructuring typically aims to help a person reexamine and make sense of the traumatic event by thinking about what happened in a more helpful way. Often, a person may remember things differently from how they occurred or believe they are at fault for the way events transpired. 

Cognitive restructuring can encompass various techniques which usually focus on the interaction of thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. By changing unhelpful or inaccurate thought patterns, emotions may shift, and symptoms may be relieved. Other cognitive approaches include cognitive processing therapy (CPT) and cognitive therapy. These approaches tend to be highly recommended by the American Psychological Association for PTSD treatment. 

Exploring EMDR therapy and what happens when PTSD is triggered

Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) is a type of psychotherapy that can help individuals process trauma, make sense of it, and relieve the distress associated with a particular event. EMDR usually involves bilateral stimulation in the form of following a back-and-forth movement with your eyes while recalling a specific memory "until shifts occur in the way that you experience that memory and more information from the past is processed." 

Recommended by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs as one of the more effective therapies for PTSD, EMDR can take between one and three months of weekly sessions. 

Virtual therapy to alleviate PTSD symptoms

Sometimes, PTSD symptoms can make it challenging to attend therapy in person. The thought of leaving the comfort of your home or encountering triggers on your commute to the therapist’s office may prevent you from seeking treatment. Attending therapy in a virtual setting may be an excellent way to receive the professional guidance you deserve.

Benefits of online therapy for post-traumatic stress disorder

Online therapy through platforms like BetterHelp can be convenient and accessible for many people. Online therapy generally allows you to speak to a therapist by phone, video, or online chat to further suit your comfort levels. 

A UK-based study of 196 people with mild-to-moderate PTSD symptoms found that "PTSD symptoms improved equally after online or face-to-face treatment at 16 weeks; there was no difference between the two therapies."