GLIMMER vs. TRIGGER

So what is glimmer and what is trigger? Both of these somewhat connect to how we humans behave but in very different ways. These two spark a certain feeling in people, depending on each and every individual’s personal experiences.

Everyone is familiar with the term “trigger” – something—even the smallest thing—that could set you off in an unsettling way and make you spiral into a bad mood, down to a panic attack. The word itself means “an event or situation, etc., that causes something to start.”  This could stem from something traumatic that happened to or around you. It is something most people have, and we try our best to avoid it by any means. One example could be that someone experienced a bicycle accident a few years ago, and even being around bicycles or seeing them on the street could trigger that traumatic experience and lead to anxiety or a negative change of behavior.

But what is “glimmer”? Well, glimmer is somewhat the exact opposite of what a trigger means and does to a person. The word “glimmer” is defined to be a shining or a sparkle, which means that this is something that sparks something in someone in a positive way. This could be a little thing that reminds them of a good memory they had or just the simplest things that make them happy, like a cup of coffee that they look forward to buying every day or the music that they would choose to hear on their way to school. 

Though everyone has their own triggers, it is also good to find your ‘glimmer’ and the silver lining in things to balance it out. It is important to always listen to our minds and bodies. One way to do this could be by finding out what your ‘glimmers’ are so that they could make your triggers feel small and don’t affect you as much.

References

Blanchfield, T. (2023, May 8). How a glimmer triggers feelings of joy and safety. Verywell Mind. https://www.verywellmind.com/what-is-a-glimmer-5323168  

Pedersen, T. (2022, April 28). Triggers: What they are, how they form, and what to do. Psych Central. https://psychcentral.com/lib/what-is-a-trigger 

Cambridge Dictionary. (n.d.). Trigger. Cambridge Dictionary. https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/trigger 

Merriam-Webster. (n.d.). Glimmer. Merriam-Webster. https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/glimmer