Please support the following statement from an REBT/CBT perspective: It’s only a trigger if you let it be.

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

Triggers are automatic. Once a trigger is implemented, the process goes forward without any ability to stop. For example, a bullet leaves a gun barrel once the trigger is pulled. Consequently, a trigger holds significant weight. However, a stressor may cause countless emotions and thoughts flooding the minds of individual, but there is no mandate for use. There is no unwavering absolute and rigid outcome dictating client behavior. Thus, their automatic thoughts and associated negative schemas (“I cannot be around alcohol without drinking”) effectively turns a stressor (for which there is control to manage) into a trigger (for which, by definition, there is no control). This is never to say that the management of stressors may not be challenging, scary, confusing, exhausting, and just overwhelming. It is, and more. But it is possible to manage, and CBT helps instill the self-efficacy back into the client by simply stating that this context is stressful but not predetermined for failure. It is in the client’s hands to craft the ultimate outcome as opposed to an ultimate outcome forced upon a client with no other options.