History Main / Trigger

Compare the BanOnPolitics (an attempt at handling a near-universal BerserkButton), the NuclearWeaponsTaboo, TriggerPhrase, and TooSoon. Not to be confused with {{Squick}} which may be unsettling, but is not a psychological trigger. Or the animation company, Creator/StudioTrigger, made up of former ''Gainax'' employees. Also not to be confused with a gun trigger. If you were looking for a Tigger Warning go [[Franchise/WinnieThePooh here]]. See also, ImHavingSoulPains.

* ''Disney/{{Zootopia}}'': Seeing the [[spoiler: "savage" animals]] muzzled causes Nick to have flashbacks to when [[spoiler: he tried to join the Junior Ranger Scouts and the other kids shoved a muzzle on him because he was a predator.]]

* [[WhatDoYouMeanItsForKids Rather unusually for a show aimed at young kids,]] Reira Akaba from ''Anime/YuGiOhARCV'' breaks into PTSD when [[spoiler:the sight of a never-ending stream of Obelisk Force mooks reminds him of the gas-masked soldiers he often saw while growing up in a distant country torn apart by war.]]

** In the 2003 anime anime Roy suffers from PTSD and depression after the Ishbal War. When he fights a twelve year old Edward in an early episode he starts to deal a final blow but freezes up and remembers how he [[WouldHurtAChild killed a boy]] in the war. This pause leaves an opening and lets Ed defeat Roy.

* In ''FanFic/TheFifthAct'', being [[PeggySue sent to the past]] is not good for Cloud's emotional health. Pretty much everything and everyone he interacts with forces a flashback or pushes a BerserkButton or otherwise reminds him of his past. He starts getting frequent BadDreams as a result.
** For example, [[InnocentlyInsensitive Sephiroth]] tries to egg him into a fight by calling him a puppet to make fun of Cloud's ExtremeDoormat nature, not knowing that's the absolute worst thing that he can call him. Cloud attacks him in a blind fury.

* In the [[WhatCouldHaveBeen beta version]] of ''VisualNovel/KatawaShoujo'' Hisao [[spoiler:having a heart attack]] triggers Hanako and thows her into a suicidal HeroicBSOD because [[spoiler:as a child she saw a boy she liked get hit by a car.]] In her hysteria she believes that [[spoiler:she caused Hisao to die]].

* Kotomi from ''Webcomic/CrossHeart'' was [[RapeAsBackstory raped]] by a man as a little girl after he said he was going to help her find her parents after she got lost. She has nightmares about it constantly and is distant from others, though with the help of her girlfriend she's becoming more sociable. One night when she was out at night a man asked her if she was lost and she proceeded to start screaming and shielded herself. Luckily her girlfriend was around to get the guy to leave.

* In ''Anime/HeatGuyJ'' [[SmugSnake Clair]] "kidnaps" a little robot child named Teto (after the guy who built Teto illegally refuses to sell the robot to TheMafia), with the intent of reprogramming him to destroy J. Teto is programmed to ask, "Is this alright?" after obeying a command, and this causes Clair to flash back to emotional abuse and neglect from his father. Clair is visibly disturbed by Teto, and gleefully commands the robot to self-destruct after dealing with J.
** [[TheHero Daisuke]] himself triggers yet another flashback (this one to physical abuse) when he gives Clair a ShutUpHannibal speech. This earns Daisuke three gunshots. [[spoiler: But he had on a bulletproof vest, so he's alright.]]

* ''Webcomic/{{Homestuck}}'':
** [[spoiler: Karkat's ancestor/double Kankri]] is a parody of a social justice warrior on Tumblr. He tries to be sensitive to the triggers of others except he'll bring up the triggering topic first and then apologize in the most patronizing way possible. Paraphrased example: [[spoiler: Latula, Terezi's ancestor/double can't smell. Kankri talks about how something smells then apologizes for triggering and insulting her (it doesn't, and she's actually amused by it), and congratulates her on being able to achieve so much despite not being able to smell and also being a girl.]]
* Kotomi from ''Webcomic/CrossHeart'' was [[RapeAsBackstory raped]] by a man as a little girl after he said he was going to help her find her parents. She has nightmares about it constantly and is distant from others, though with the help of her girlfriend she's becoming more sociable. One night when she was out at night a man asked her if she was lost and she proceeded to start screaming and shielded herself. Luckily her girlfriend was around to get the guy to leave.

* In ''Film/IronMan3'', Tony Stark's PTSD is triggered by the mere mention of "New York", "aliens", "wormhole", or anything to do with [[Film/TheAvengers the Chitauri invasion]].
* Marianne from ''WesternANimation/StrangeMagic'' gets lost in flashbacks about being attacked in the Dark Forest by goblins when she goes near it.

* In the 2003 ''Anime/FullmetalAlchemist'' anime Roy suffers from PTSD and depression over the Ishbal War. When he's fighting a twelve year old Edward in an early episode he starts to deal a final blow but freezes up and remembers how he [[WouldHurtAChild killed a boy]] in the war. This pause leaves an opening and lets Ed defeat him.
** When Edward, who has similar mental health issues in this version, sees the mangled corpse of a woman slaughtered by a serial killer he freaks out and faints. It reminds him of the horrific failed transmutation of his mother.

* In chapter 5 of ''Manga/SchoolLive'', Yuki triggers RepressedMemories of [[spoiler:Megu-nee]] twice. The first time Kurumi reminded her of something Megu-nee told her once, but Yuki had trouble remembering it clearly. The second time she triggers herself by saying something [[spoiler:that causes a severe headache.]] It's revealed to us [[spoiler:that Megu-nee has been DeadAllAlong]] and what triggered Yuki was [[spoiler:that she said something similar during Megu-nee's death.]]

* ''BuffyTheVampireSlayer: Season 10'' had an issue called "Triggers", concerning an Incubus sexual predator.

* In chapter 5 of ''Manga/SchoolLive'', Yuki triggers RepressedMemories of [[spoiler:Megu-nee]] twice. The first time Kurumi reminded her of something Megu-nee told her once, but Yuki had trouble remembering it clearly. The second time she triggers herself by saying something [[spoiler:that causes a severe headache.]] It's revealed to us [[spoiler:that Megu-nee has been DeadAllAlong]] and what triggered Yuki was [[spoiler:that she said something similar during Megu-nee's death.]] Yuki faint

** Contrasting with [[spoiler: Kankri]] and his tendency to treat any potentially unpleasant topic like a high-level trigger whether or not anyone present actually experiences it as such, [[spoiler: Dave]] describes living with true PTSD triggers from [[spoiler: his abusive childhood of constant attacks, neglect, and smuppets. Specifically, physical confrontation, metallic noises, and the sight of blood trigger his flashbacks.]]

Compare the BanOnPolitics (an attempt at handling a near-universal BerserkButton), the NuclearWeaponsTaboo, TriggerPhrase, and TooSoon. Not to be confused with {{Squick}} which may be unsettling, but is not a psychological trigger. Or the animation company, Creator/StudioTrigger, made up of former ''Gainax'' employees. If you were looking for a Tigger Warning go [[Franchise/WinnieThePooh here]]. See also, ImHavingSoulPains.

* In ''Webcomic/SlightlyDamned'', being called or asked if she's "sick" makes Kieri go into a state of blacked-out rage, and she end up beating a fellow angel to a bloody pulp because [[spoiler: it triggers memories of her abusive mother.]]

* In ''Webcomic/SlightlyDamned'', being called or asked if she's "sick" makes Kieri go into a state of blacked-out rage and beats a fellow angel to a bloody pulp because [[spoiler: it triggers memories of her abusive mother.]]

* In ''Webcomic/SlightlyDamned'', being called or asked if she's "sick" makes Kieri go into a state of blacked-out rage and beats a fellow angel to a bloody pulp because [[spoiler: it triggers memories of her abusive mother.]]

* One of the most controversial moments of ''VideoGame/MetroidOtherM'' has Samus reacting to the trigger of seeing Ridley again, after he was believed to be dead. The problem most fans had with this was that Samus had never shown any indication of PTSD before ''Other M'' and had likewise shown no problems in taking Ridley down despite their long, violent history.

* Flippy from ''WebAnimation/HappyTreeFriends'' takes this trope to the extreme; anything can (and will) trigger his PTSD.

* ''HellsingUltimateAbridged'' has Alexander Anderson flinging knives at her being Seras' trigger. Alucard even says she's triggered, annoyed about it.

* Kotomi from ''Cross Heart'' was [[RapeAsBackstory raped]] by a man as a little girl after he said he was going to help her find her parents. She has nightmares about it constantly and is distant from others, though with the help of her girlfriend she's becoming more sociable. One night when she was out at night a man asked her if she was lost and she proceeded to start screaming and shielded herself. Luckily her girlfriend was around to get the guy to leave.