Triggers All Around Me

[DISCLAIMER]

In common parlance, a “trigger” refers to a piece, such as a lever, connected with a catch or detent as a means of releasing it – especially the part of the action moved by the finger to fire a gun. About this, on the Shed EP (2020) by Alexander12, the song “Triggers” states:

[Chorus]

Triggers all around me

Looking in the mirror

How did I get trigger fingers?

Triggers all around me

Looking in the mirror

Oh my, how did I get trigger fingers?

[Verse one]

Be quick to point the blame

Be quick to voice the shame

I keep it to myself

But in my thoughts, that shit be so insane

These people blow my brain

Folk be expecting you to be what they project of you

If not, that’s dirt thrown on your name

I see it clear as day

I used to never understand why motherfuckers bite the hand from which the light was gave

I shine my light and save

Life, a hell of a price to be alive around the uninspired mental slaves

Oops, there I go again

I’m judging family, lovers; pushing away my friends

But truthfully, them words depend on who we calling, and

Lost my connection to niggas I thought was falling in

We wind up falling out

I wind up calling out

Ain’t even working to serve the people

I’m stalling out

Trying to keep me from hollerin’ out

Like, fuck a pistol, I’m trying to guide me a missile

Still wondering why the fuck my finger on this trigger

The lyricist discusses both the colloquial use of the word “trigger(s),” as well as the term’s psychological implications. For context, the American Psychological Association (APA) defines “trigger” as a stimulus that elicits a reaction.

The APA further uses an example of an event that could be a trigger for a memory of a past experience and an accompanying state of emotional arousal. The APA also refers to a “triggering cause” as a stimulus or phenomenon that initiates the immediate onset of a behavior problem.

For further context, the APA refers to a “precipitating cause” as the particular factor, sometimes a traumatic or stressful experience, that is the immediate cause of a mental or physical disorder. In common parlance, this experience is simply referred to as a “trigger.”

Yet, when providing psychoeducational lessons on my approach to Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT), I invite people not to place too much emphasis on supposed “triggers.” To demonstrate why this is, I invite you to consider the ABC model and “Triggers” by Alexander12.

The ABC model illustrates that when an undesirable Activating event (“Action”) occurs and one Believes an unhelpful narrative about the event, it’s one’s unfavorable assumption, not the occurrence itself, that causes an unpleasant Consequence. This is known as self-disturbance.

For instance, imagine that Alexander12 is blamed by person X for not behaving as expected (Action). The lyricist then Believes, “This is awful, because I shouldn’t let other people down.” With this unfavorable perspective, Alexander12 then experiences shame (Consequence).

As referenced in “Triggers”, a common misconception is that blame causes shame. In common parlance, one may inaccurately conclude that blame triggers shame. Even the APA appears to uphold this imprecise framing of emotional arousal. Yet, I altogether reject this frame!

Allow me to explain. From a psychological standpoint, people disturb themselves using a Belief-Consequence (B-C) connection. Of course, this isn’t to suggest that in the context of the naturalistic or physical world there is no Action-Consequence (A-C) connection.

As an example, from the A-C frame, suppose that when person X blames Alexander12 for not behaving as expected the lyricist unadvisedly positions himself behind a rifle and shoots at the individual (Action). The bullet that hits person X then results in death (Consequence).

In this hypothetical example, did blame “trigger” Alexander12’s murderous reaction? Of course not! I argue that the lyricist has personal agency, as well as maintaining personal responsibility and accountability (collectively “ownership”) for his own emotions, behavior, etc.

Thus, regarding this imagined scenario, when person X blames Alexander12 for not behaving as expected (Action) and the lyricist uses an unhelpful Belief about the matter, it’s his self-disturbing narrative that causes an unpleasant Consequence. He B-C triggers himself, if you like.

Addressing how people upset themselves with unhelpful attitudes, the ABC model incorporates Disputation of unproductive philosophies of life in order to explore Effective new beliefs. Whereas rigid beliefs cause self-disturbance, flexible beliefs result in an un-disturbed condition.

In “Triggers”, Alexander12 uses both the colloquial term “triggers all around me” and the psychological meaning of this phrase. As demonstrated herein, there are no such triggers which form an A-C connection. Rather, people “trigger” themselves using the B-C connection.

Now, I invite you to acknowledge that you have personal agency, as well as taking personal ownership for your unproductive outcomes when triggering yourself during undesirable activating events. If you’d like more information about REBT, I invite you to reach out to me.

If you’re looking for a provider who tries to work to help you understand how thinking impacts physical, mental, emotional, and behavioral elements of your life, I invite you to reach out today by using the contact widget on my website.

As the world’s foremost hip hop-influenced REBT psychotherapist, I’m pleased to try to help people with an assortment of issues from anger (hostility, rage, and aggression) to relational issues, adjustment matters, trauma experience, justice involvement, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, anxiety and depression, and other mood or personality-related matters.

At Hollings Therapy, LLC, serving all of Texas, I aim to treat clients with dignity and respect while offering a multi-lensed approach to the practice of psychotherapy and life coaching. My mission includes: Prioritizing the cognitive and emotive needs of clients, an overall reduction in client suffering, and supporting sustainable growth for the clients I serve. Rather than simply trying to help you to feel better, I want to try to help you get better!

Deric Hollings, LPC, LCSW

References:

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