In phobia treatment, a trigger is an object or situation that can cause your phobia symptoms to appear. Triggers vary widely, even among people with the same general phobia. For example, Jeff and Denise are both arachnophobic (afraid of spiders). Jeff has a phobic reaction when he sees a picture of a spider. Denise can handle pictures of spiders but is afraid of moving spiders in a movie. Both have the same phobia, but different triggers.
In general, the number of triggers you have, as well as the severity of your reaction to each trigger, can help determine how severe your phobia is. Your triggers can also help your therapist decide on a treatment plan.
Cognitive-behavioral therapy often uses a technique known as systematic desensitization, in which you will rank your triggers according to the anxiety you feel from each one. You will then work your way through the list, using new coping techniques to become comfortable with one before moving on to the next.
