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A trigger is a pre-existing condition, a tripwire in the other person that you inadvertently set off by saying or doing something, resulting in a pre-programmed reaction over which the other person has little or no control.
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When most of us think of triggers, we think of guns and specifically the firing mechanism. The trigger on a gun is something you decide to pull. You take a conscious action, and as a result of that action, the bullet fires. With people—and relationships—triggers are inverted. A trigger is a pre-existing condition, a tripwire in the other person that you inadvertently set off by saying or doing something, resulting in a pre-programmed reaction over which the other person has little or no control. Let’s put that into simple-speak with some examples. Your partner goes apeshit when you order a second glass of wine—because her father was an alcoholic. Your partner withdraws emotionally at what you thought was a light-hearted taunt—because a bully called him that as a child. Your partner feels threatened when you go out with your friends, or if you don’t check in 10 times a day—because he or she has fears of abandonment. These are typical triggers relating to a person’s past.
Here’s a real example from my own personal life. One of my ex wives claimed that my physical touch hurt her. Believe me, I was gentle and never, ever violent, but if I so much as brushed against her in certain places, she would recoil in pain. If, however, my touch was too gentle, she found it off-putting, somehow effeminate and creepy. As hard—or as softly—as I tried, I was rarely able to strike the perfect balance of non-painful firmness, a situation that severely compromised our ability to be intimate. Having applied the same touch to other women since my divorce, I am aware that the issue was not my touch but my ex-wife’s sensitivity. My touch triggered something in her that set off her reaction, a reaction that seemed irrational to me but perfectly rational to her, given her difficult childhood. Imagine if you tapped a person lightly on the arm and that person’s bone shattered. You triggered the shattering, but you didn’t cause it, because you didn’t cause the bone’s extreme weakness. Now you understand triggers.
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One minute you’re smiling lovingly at each other, and suddenly someone’s in tears. WTF? The culprit is the hidden trigger …
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We often wonder why words or actions that we consider to be a light tap on our partner’s arm cause a bone—trust, intimacy, even love itself—to shatter. One minute you’re smiling lovingly at each other, and suddenly someone’s in tears. WTF? The culprit is the hidden trigger, the silent, pre-existing shatter-readiness of which we were unaware. While psychological triggers are typically linked to past trauma, there’s a group of emotional triggers common to nearly all people that affect the majority of couples in ways they don’t easily grasp. Specifically, there are five hidden emotional tripwires that can set off explosive reactions and threaten blow your happiness to smithereens. Ignore them at your own peril, or avoid them carefully to stay in one piece. The five hidden emotional triggers are respect, value, resentment, stagnation, and despair.
Dismissal triggers a predictable, destructive pattern of dysfunctional communication that worsens conflict by attempting to avoid it.
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1. The respect trigger: Dismissing your partner’s complaints or opinions. Nothing does more damage to the integrity of your relationship than not taking your partner’s concerns seriously. A single shrug propels a speeding torpedo directly into the hull of your partner’s esteem for you, and it’s not easy to remove shrapnel and repair twisted steel. No matter how minor or irrational the issue seems to you, ignoring or minimizing, cutting your partner off mid-sentence, countering with your own complaint or opinion, or worst of all calling your partner crazy will trigger the feeling that you don’t respect your partner. It doesn’t matter if you do respect your partner. And it doesn’t matter what you did yesterday to show it. Bring that up, and you’ll trigger a follow-up explosion, because now you want credit for your generous, loving, and selfless gift. Also, be aware that offering to make amends or fix a problem without fully hearing the problem has the same effect as dismissing the problem. And sometimes, a minor problem doesn’t require a response—only a patient, listening ear and acknowledgment of your partner’s feelings. Similarly, you can allow space for opinions you don’t share and refrain from debating them. Dismissal triggers a predictable, destructive pattern of dysfunctional communication that worsens conflict by attempting to avoid it. The best way to avoid the respect trigger is to equate respect with listening and realize that you don’t have to agree to respect your partner’s position.
If there are little or big things you do—or don’t do—that leave your partner feeling your needs and satisfaction always come first, you’re doomed.
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2. The value trigger: Coming across as inconsiderate. As with the appearance of impropriety in politics, your being perceived as selfish or inconsiderate, even if you’re not, is all it takes to blow a fatal hole in your relationship. If there are little or big things you do—or don’t do—that leave your partner feeling your needs and satisfaction always come first, you’re doomed. These actions or omissions may make no difference to you, but they make all the difference to your partner. Being forgetful, inattentive, or unconcerned with your partner’s emotional state, failing to give recognition, or taking anything your partner does for you for granted triggers the feeling that you don’t value or appreciate your partner. And there’s no point in staying where you’re not valued. Your partner’s reaction—frustration, anger, even rage—may seem disproportionate to the seemingly minor triggering event. But you’re not the judge of how devalued your partner feels, nor have you factored in the cumulative impact of dozens or hundreds of devaluing incidents. And if you are considerate in some or even many areas, you’re blind to the idea that you could be inconsiderate elsewhere. The best way to avoid the value trigger is to reframe your decision-making. Instead of asking yourself, does this matter to my partner, ask yourself, does my partner matter to me?
If you consistently leave all the heavy lifting—emotional, financial, and social—or even all the lightweight stuff to your partner, don’t be surprised if you eventually get a barbell dropped on your head.
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3. The resentment trigger: Shirking responsibility and dumping it on your partner. No one wants to be married to or live with a grown child, especially if you’re raising or have already raised your kids. Temper tantrums are an active-aggressive way of acting out feelings common in toddlers, but the adult responsibility dump constitutes a quiet form of classic passive-aggressive behavior. If you consistently leave all the heavy lifting—emotional, financial, and social—or even all the lightweight stuff to your partner, don’t be surprised if you eventually get a barbell dropped on your head. Whether you claim ignorance, deftly praise your partner as being better at things you’d rather not do, or make no overt demands but brim with silent expectations, you’re causing frustration and triggering resentment in your partner for always having to be the responsible killjoy. In addition, your partner will resent you—and your happiness—as you have all the fun. Responsibility is rarely shared 50/50 in relationships, but both partners must come to the table and contribute. If you frequently hear the words, “Step up to the plate,” and you’re not on a baseball diamond, it’s time to change your game. The best way to avoid the resentment trigger is to stop thinking about what you can get out of and start putting in as much as you get out.
Relationships thrive on growth and evolution, and successful relationships don’t look the same as they did 10 years ago or even 10 days ago.
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4. The stagnation trigger: Repeating mistakes and not learning or growing. Relationships thrive on growth and evolution, and successful relationships don’t look the same as they did 10 years ago or even 10 days ago. When one partner stagnates, the other grows apart simply by continuing to grow. No one likes to be criticized, but just as a parent’s job is to instill values and raise a civilized adult, a partner’s job is to challenge you and help you grow into your best self. If you repeat the same mistakes, or dig your heels in and resist change, you trigger fear in your partner that the relationship is stagnating, and your partner begins to push you to start growing. And you start to feel pain. You can avoid that pain by withdrawing inward. But the pain of growing and emerging from your shell is nothing compared to the pain of losing your partner when he or she seeks growth and fulfillment elsewhere. The best way to avoid the stagnation trigger is to adopt the practices of self-improvement and relationship improvement. Ask yourself each day, how can I be just a little better, and how can I make my relationship just a little better, too.
No, you’re never responsible for your partner’s emotional withdrawal or cheating (remember, triggering is not causing), but despair leaves the need for happiness and fulfillment unmet, and unmet needs are relationship kryptonite.
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5. The despair trigger: The quadruple whammy. When the first four triggers are set off consistently, dysfunctional patterns of conflict such as the endless argument take root and begin to corrupt your relationship dynamic. Essentially, everything goes to shit. You can’t put your finger on the moment your partner gave up on you and stopped trying, because there often isn’t a single moment but an accumulation of moments that erode hope. While the reaction to stagnation is intense frustration and fighting fiercely for change, the reaction to the sinking feeling that things are never going to change is despair and quitting. So you trigger despair in your partner when you prove, through inaction, that things are not going to get better any time soon, if ever. When despair sets in, your partner begins replacing the together time you need for intimacy with solo activities, and the next stage is often emotional or even sexual infidelity. The calculus is this: There’s nothing but misery for me here, so I might as well make myself happy. No, you’re never responsible for your partner’s emotional withdrawal or cheating (remember, triggering is not causing), but despair leaves the need for happiness and fulfillment unmet, and unmet needs are relationship kryptonite.
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Being aware of these five triggers and taking your finger off of them can help your relationship thrive again almost immediately. You’ll also feel more in control and see the positive results. And when you stop triggering, you can enjoy the feeling of enjoying your partner again.
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Photo–iStock
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The 7 Deadly Signs of a Dysfunctional Relationship
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If you’ve gotten to number 5 how do you fix it? I don’t want to lose my husband
Thomas, thanks for this article. In my opinion it’s very accurate!
Isn’t there some responsibility In relationships to lend some introspection to one own’s demons (triggers) and repair past hurts? True, one must be considerate & kind but it sounds like walking on eggshells to me. No thanks.
Outstanding piece of work, and spot-on, too. Well done, Tom.
Tom – you’ve done it again, this post contains outstanding insight and wisdom. Thanks so much for shining light into these unexplored areas – truly grateful!
Tor, Thank you. I’m glad you appreciate the insight here. I truly hope it helps couples navigate these minefields so they can increase their peace, harmony, and joy.
If you’ve reached number 5 and your partner is withdrawing how do you repair the damage?