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Originally Posted by Niamh.
Yes exactly.
Also, if a certain subject "triggers" a person i would have thought that exposing yourself to that subject and facing it head on would be the best way to deal with it? Like surely learning how to not become "triggered" is a more healthy option mentally than running and hiding from it?
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I think it depends really, complete avoidance results in repression but on the other hand going in too hard can be a disaster. Major example would be the victims of serious childhood abuse encountering not only case studies of similar things, but also having the psychological consequences laid out on front of them. If it's someone who still has some of that trauma "behind walls", chipping away at the wall before that person has extensively worked through their past with professional help is usually a very bad idea. The human mind is very good at protecting itself in basic ways but, to be honest, not brilliant at healing itself without conscious effort. Which is essentially what "triggering" is - the basic protections failing around an issue that hasn't been addressed fully, resulting in emotional distress.
But people know, in general, what their "wounds" are... And they know where these issues are likely to come up. Also people who HAVE fully worked through their issues will know it. It doesn't happen by accident or automatically.
So I would basically say... Even though it may seem harsh... If you know that you have trigger issues, then the sensible option is to not enter a course of academic study that is likely to "go there" without getting professional therapy first. Don't start one and then realise "Uh oh I don't think I can handle this...".