Consider the buzz word “trigger” that has emerged from pop culture in recent years. It's the idea that certain things in the world may be tied by association with the emotional damage we carry deep inside ourselves. If a human runs into an event or situation that triggers them, then their traumatic memories may suddenly and violently be released to haunt them again. Basically, these triggers act as keys, allowing our hurts to escape from within us and take control of our lives. This trauma comes in several forms and has plenty of names:
- Baggage
- Hang-ups
- Strongholds
- Anxiety
- Issues
- Apathy
- Fears
- Anger
- Distrust
- Episodes
- Depression
- Phobias
Pick your poison. However you label it, we all carry past hurts. It’s worth admitting that you’ve been affected by what you’ve gone through, and some of it has shaped you in negative ways.
After experiencing trauma or disappointment, many bury the corpses of their hopes, dreams, trust, security, ambition, or self-worth in shallow ditches within the graveyards of their mind. Suppression like this may appear to work in the short term, but always has consequences later down the road. The issue people run into is, the corpses they buried aren’t entirely dead. Those memories are a part of you, and not disposing of them properly will cause them to come back. Trauma that goes unaddressed will always lurk just beneath the surface, waiting for its chance to make itself known again.
Often, those suckers rise and reanimate like zombies to come after you. Trauma zombies! They come out of nowhere and haunt you without warning and make sub-conscious decisions that will affect your life drastically. This is the mistrust, anger, sadness, depression, loneliness, and empty feelings that seem to come from nowhere. It’s why some people can’t seem to keep from flinching when normal things such as commitment, opportunity, intimacy, vulnerability, or trust try to enter their lives. If any of those beautiful parts of life resemble a previously negative experience, it's all a trauma zombie will need to pull itself out of its grave and attack.
Maybe I am describing you in some areas. If so, then understand that if you get triggered, then it’s a sure sign that something needs to be dealt with internally. Sure, there is no need for anyone to be flat out inconsiderate on sensitive subjects, but the real issue plaguing those being triggered is internal.
Often triggers are not bad in themselves; they are only reminders of the hurt we have within ourselves. Even when triggers are violent or grotesque, there is no guarantee you can hide from them for the rest of your life. At some point, you will get triggered by something on the news, social media, or even in your everyday interactions. What I’m really driving at is, the world or another person should not be allowed to have these psychological guns that will be used to “trigger” you. You can take away those guns by addressing your trauma. After removing this target from your back, you will be free to go about your life without the fear of your own memories.
Just to be clear, I hope there is justice for whatever caused your trauma and that people will be considerate about the subjects that trigger you. I wouldn’t ever want to discount the impact that a catastrophic event or dark season of life can have on a person. Some memories can be genuinely horrific and near impossible to forget. Anyone who has ever been told, “just get over it,” knows that escaping the effects of traumatizing events isn’t that simple.
If there was some magical switch we could flip to fix ourselves, everyone would have done that by now, right? I don’t know anyone who wouldn’t flip a switch like that actually. The girl that was sexually assaulted can’t just get over what happened to her. The kid that was bullied can’t just leave his mistrust of the world behind him. The guy who discovered his fiancé was cheating on him can’t easily believe the promise of the next girl. Authentic healing requires vulnerability and is a lot more complex than any switch claiming to be a quick fix to a damaged mind or heart.
Let’s work towards that authentic healing. It’s possible. Please know that you are capable of being free from the imprisonment of your triggers and trauma zombies. Whatever past hurts you may have, your life is too epic to be defined by what's been done to you. Your story is more significant than that. You do not have to allow your past to define your future. With the right methods and a little help, it’s time to kill your trauma zombies. For real this time.
Killing a Trauma Zombie
So, how do you kill a trauma zombie? With the thousands of zombie movies, novels, comics, and TV shows released over the years, I’m pretty sure everyone should qualify for a Master's degree in Apocalyptic Studies by now. Deep down, I’d bet you already know how to kill those infected memories that creep within your subconscious… All you really need is some direction and a little encouragement to get you started.
Having trauma, past hurt, or regret does not mean you are an emo kid, helpless, or weak… It only means you are human. I’ve had my share of zombies throughout life as well. This is why I have spent countless hours of research on creating a very special part of my Awkward List dedicated to the eradication of zombies. I refuse to allow them to run my life or force me to live in fear. For anyone who would like to know my tactics for overcoming your triggers, zombies, and other forms of trauma, then lucky you. I’ve prepared a Trauma Zombie Survival Strategy.
The “Unofficial” Trauma Zombie Survival Strategy
Make no mistake… trauma, old wounds, disappointment, abuse, fear, anger, and self-loathing are all varied forms of zombies… Zombies after your brains! This brief manual holds the skills and techniques necessary for your survival, as well as the tactics needed to eradicate the undead hoards attempting to plague your existence and subconscious.
Acknowledge the Existence of Zombies
Whether navigating through a post-apocalyptic wasteland or just the interior of your own mind, surviving in a world of zombies requires awareness. One of the biggest rookie mistakes a human can make is refusing to acknowledge the existence of zombies in their world. They kid themselves, pretending that the zombies around them are not real. These folks make awkward attempts at going about their daily business while avoiding eye contact with the zombie memories all around them. Fits of anger, numbness, anxiety, and depression may result when one of these zombies decide to attack. These same humans then make excuses for the zombie within them, blaming the unexplained behavior on an "off day." It is common to hear these humans also writing off their severe reactions by telling others that they are "fine" when they clearly are not.
It’s understandable why so many humans attempt to ignore the painful experiences of their past. Acknowledgment can often be a painful experience that has crippling effects. Even so, these zombies should not be ignored. The zombie plague inside will only continue to grow if not addressed correctly.
Trauma zombies are terrifying and travel in hordes. The first step of your survival is to become keenly aware of the zombies around you. Study where they hide and patterns of how they attack. Don’t pretend there are no zombies around you or that you are issue-free. All humans have hang-ups that need healing. Stay aware of your surroundings and the dangers hidden within the shadows of your psyche. This will set you up for success in evading their bite and preparing to combat your decaying enemy.
Identify Zombie Types
Once a zombie has been spotted, it is crucial to identify the type of zombie you are dealing with. The following are some examples of postmortem monsters you may come into contact with. Examine your struggles, identify your zombie, strategize your means of survival:
The Dragger
Is your zombie a slow-moving creeper like those in The Walking Dead? You know the type, they make their way to bite you at a glacial pace as they limp along in the night. Though parts of its body may be rotting off and it moves at the speed of your grandmother, these undead monsters still carry the zombie virus.
Remember, the zombie tortoise will always beat the undead hare in a race to consume you. A lingering hurt from your past can fester and whisper lies until you believe it’s true. A mean word someone once said can take down even the strongest human if they allow it to remain inside their mind. Never discount a zombie no matter how slow or decaying it is.
The Hoard
Perhaps your zombie problem comes with an entire hoard… Sure, you have made an emotional barricade strong enough to keep most of the clawing critters at bay, but what about a whole siege of them? Of course, you are tough, but what will you do once you reach your limit? How many zombies would it take to break through your defenses?
If you spot a herd of brain-eaters headed your direction, it’s time to get tactical. You may have to change your location, so you will have fewer of them to fight at once. If you are in a place in life corrosive to your mental health or surrounded by people who are damaging, then it's time to change your circumstances. An unhealthy friend group, work environment, or family dynamic can allow your issues to grow and add new traumas into your life. These environments are toxic and will produce zombies faster than you can put them down. Don’t let yourself get overwhelmed by social insecurities, disappointments, fears, and relationship wounds when they try attacking you all at once.
If you find yourself in an overwhelming situation like this, it is imperative to evaluate your surroundings, find a safe place, and tackle one issue at a time. By breaking down your hoard of undead issues into individual zombies, you can thin down the hoard. Breathe easy and figure out where the packs of zombies are spawning from in your life so you can make the necessary changes to stay alive. Tackle your problems one by one and you will be on your way to a healthier lifestyle.
The Undead Sprinter
Next up are the impressively fast and agile zombies best compared to the crazy creatures sprinting around in World War Z. These fellas don’t really give you a chance to brace yourself. By the time you see one, it’s already running full speed ahead to consume you.
This is what we in the business call a “trigger zombie.” One day you are walking downtown, and you come across your ex. Around their shoulders is the arm of the person left you for. Lovely, eh? They don’t see you because you throw yourself into nearby bushes out of panic. It’s been over a year, but for some reason, this hits you like a train.
Perhaps, this isn’t your issue though…. Let’s try these out for size. Someone says a phrase your abusive father used to say. A friend invites you to church after you were burnt by a faith community previously. A friend betrays you in the same way that your old best friend had. Fill in the gap with whatever hits you with an unexpected emotional force. An ambush such as these isn't easy to guard yourself against.
These corpse runners are deadly and hard to combat in the field. It's best to trap and study them on your own terms so that you can investigate how to best survive when you are triggered. If you only face your insecurities or trauma when you are being assailed, then you're toast. You must face your sensitive issues in a contained environment to examine their weaknesses. This will provide you the knowhow to combat them when they inevitably show up in your life. Study and deal with these zombies in a safe place, surrounded by people willing to provide support and assistance.
A Psychological Apocalypse
Last up is the life-changing event of a full-blown Psychological Apocalypse. This is the big leagues of devastation. These are the tragic events in life that drastically shape a person, such as a divorce, sexual assault, physical/psychological abuse, a broken family, or other toxic tragedy. If one of these disasters has transpired in your life, be aware that it may be a significant source of the trauma zombies in your life today. These catastrophic events can’t be undone; however, despite how devastating they may have been, they are survivable.
Tread lightly when dissecting what happened in these events or how they have affected your life. Overcoming an apocalypse event may take years or even a lifetime of fighting, but is worth taking on if using the right strategies. Clean up the ruins of your existence one day at a time and rebuild something even greater on top of the rubble. Stay alive and keep fighting any zombies you may encounter. You are worth it.
Don’t Get Infected
One of, if not the most terrifying aspects of the undead, is the virus they carry in their bite. A disease filled zombie bite is enough to turn even good memories sour and can consume your identity.
A memory of a neglectful parent can cause a human to believe their whole childhood was horrific despite plenty of good experiences outside of their abuse at home. The emotional strain of a break up can ruin the treasured memories of first dates and romantic gestures that were made as well. This virus will infect everything within you if given a chance.
Avoid the bite of zombie memories at all costs. The symptoms of such a bite range from feverish anger to apathetic chills. Sometimes, this virus has been known to deteriorate a human's brain until they forget who they are. All that is left after the virus is done is a victim mentality.
People really do get victimized by awful people and horrible events. Still, the biggest tragedies occur when someone remains a victim for the rest of their lives. That is an actual loss, as it is the death of their soul. It’s ok to admit you were wronged or hurt. It’s essential to do that, even. Just don’t remain a victim in your head forever. If your identity becomes that of a victim, then you have truly become a zombie yourself.
Life may feel out of control, and others may hurt you by their actions, but your identity cannot be defined without your consent. Those kinds of lies are just the symptom of a nasty zombie bite. Don’t get infected and remember this... You are not a zombie, no matter what has happened to you.
Strength in Numbers
You will increase your chances of overcoming the zombified creatures within you by surrounding yourself with people who care. Trust can be difficult, though, and you may find yourself hesitant in allowing others to join you in your fight. Much of your past hurts may have been directly caused by humans in the first place! It’s understandable and a typical response among those who are plagued.
Attempting to brave this world alone is not a good strategy. Though teaming up with others can be as terrifying as any decaying ghoul of your past, you are designed to be in community. Be vulnerable with others and allow them to join your fight against trauma zombies. Sharing your story with those you trust and allowing them to share theirs with you will give a strategic advantage over your enemy. A militia of loved ones will provide the firepower necessary to win your war against the hang-ups, insecurities, and wounds of your past.
Granted, not everyone can be trusted, so be careful with your heart. Mind the outlaws, the crazies, and those self-absorbed individuals out there that would only take advantage of your situation or be apathetic to your pain. Don’t give up though, take a risk with people you can trust. There is a partner or whole tribe of zombie fighters out there that you need to team up with them. Truth is, many of these humans may need your help even more than you need theirs. There is strength in numbers. Don’t fight zombies alone.
Zombies Are Not Humans
Prevalent among the zombie fighters of the world is an inability to distinguish the difference between zombies and living humans... After all, zombies resemble the human species closely and often take on the appearance of the person who caused the damaging memory initially. Though zombies are just the tragic remains of our experiences, we must separate the zombie from the very real humans in our lives.
Humans are complicated and have both good and evil within them. They are capable of change, redemption, and possibilities. As for zombies… Well, shoot a zombie in the face whenever you are given a chance. Zombies are never the people they look like. Too often, humans will not kill a zombie because it resembles their mother, ex-boyfriend, or someone else they cared for. Understand that zombies are just the remains of horrible memories and trauma that need to be confronted. If a trauma zombie is confused for a human, then most people will never kill it. They will permit their zombie to continue ravishing the landscape of their soul out of a misguided understanding of what a zombie really is.
In contrast, if a human is confused as a zombie, you may never forgive them for the damage they have done to you. Countless people have held onto hate for other humans until the day they die. This mistake is a sure-fire way to keep zombies alive and roaming around in your mind. Humans can be forgiven; zombies are the ones we must wage war against.
Once we disassociate a zombie from the person, we can name and label the zombie for what it is. Instead of calling your zombie “Dad,” you may realize that your zombie is really made up of your dad’s unfair anger. Another zombie may need to be labeled as that trashy season you lived during freshman year of college that makes you feel dirty. You can name your zombies; just never mistake them for living humans.
Zombie Pets Are Prohibited
Let it be known, keeping a zombie as a pet is strictly prohibited. As one of the more unusual rules on this survival list, this problem is still more common than you may expect.
Some humans capture their zombies of hurt, anger, or resentment to keep contained, like a household companion. These odd humans then exploit these undead mongrels to keep themselves safe from surrounding threats. Like a junkyard guard dog, a zombie of anger may prevent anyone from getting close enough to harm the owner. In other cases, a zombie of resentment is let loose to ward off those that may attempt to form a healthy bond with the human master. It’s a guarded, lonely existence. If you have a pack of zombie pets you have groomed to protect you, consider this…
What would life be like if you dropped your guard and weren’t holding onto sadness or anger?
It’s possible for a human to live with zombies long enough that the corpse becomes a regular part of existence. This prolonged exposure to the rot and stench of a captured ghoul begins to feel normal for some, which can lead to the inability to distinguish what is harmful from what is healthy in life. You've met these individuals as well. They express all their internal hurt through their music, style, and persona. They make anger, bitterness, or depression their identity and use it to keep healthy relationships away. “Beware of Zombie” signs are not always present around these humans, so beware and tread lightly when approaching.
It's scary to separate your identity from a zombie around since your childhood or teen years, but your story deserves better. Many humans hold onto their emotional damage because they believe that it's the only control they have after horrible things that have happened to them. Real control comes by curing yourself of the disease.
Find a Cure for the Epidemic
Unlike most horror flicks where there is no vaccine or escape from the monsters that invade, there is a cure for the epidemic of hurts inside of you. This medical concoction is approximately one part justice combined with one part forgiveness.
Seek Justice
The first half of the remedy is justice. This is less about the punishment of offenders and more about setting things right. Sure, justice for many can be testifying in court against those who’ve done wrong; however, justice can take other forms as well. Setting things right may be admitting to a friend that they’ve hurt you. Often, owning up to others about the messes you’ve made while being selfish or self-centered is required. Settling the disputes and frustrations in your life is the fastest way to kill hoards of zombies, both within yourself as well as others.
Be quick to admit your faults and stand up for those who are opposed. You have the opportunity to be strong for those being taken advantage of and I hope that others will do this for you in your times of need. You may not be able to mend every wound in the world, but whenever possible, set things right. When attempting this, consider the old words that have become known as the Serenity Prayer:
“God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can, and wisdom to know the difference.”
If more people were willing to right their wrongs, far fewer trauma zombies would exist in the world today.
Practice Forgiveness
The other half of this medical formula is forgiveness. The hard reality is, many injustices will not or cannot be made right by people. Often justice does not come, and offenders will never attempt to make things right. Even when some do try to correct their wrongs, they are powerless to take back the bad experience they put you through. This leaves them owning you something that they may never be able to repay. This situation is a breeding ground for bitterness.
To forgive is to release your offender of the guilt and debt you believe they owe you for the wrongs they've done. Playing the role of a debt collector is taxing on those who attempt it. Allow yourself to be free of that burden. Without the weight of resentment on your mind, your memories can be free to heal, and you will be able to escape focusing only on the hurts you have gone through. Forgiveness is as liberating for yourself as it is for your transgressor.
Please take note that forgiveness is not an admittance of someone’s innocence or waiving all consequences of their actions. Ideally, forgiveness can be paired with justice allowing healing for everyone involved and providing a path to repair the damage that was done. Forgiveness is also not the same as forgetting. Attempting to ignore an unresolved problem is just suppression, which is where our trauma zombies spawn from in the first place.
Introduce this cure to your zombies and watch how many of them fade away. Please note, many zombies may take multiple doses of forgiveness. Continue to stab such zombies with that syringe of mercy until they stay down.
Bring Out the Big Guns
We live in a crazy world, and the constant endeavors to find shelter, ammunition, and a reliable zombie fighting crew can wear out even the most experienced traveler at times. The temptation to quit is always looming over those who wander the wastelands of the undead. Don’t stop fighting. When times are at their worst, or you are facing an especially intimidating legion of trauma zombies, it may be necessary to bring out the big guns.
Humanity is designed to be surrounded by family, friends, and mentors to keep us stable. These people all hold specific roles in your life to listen, provide guidance, celebrate wins, mourn with, and help ensure your survival throughout the journey of life. A healthy community is the natural healing process humans should be able to lean on when trauma comes our way. However, not everyone has this kind of community available. Even those who do may find themselves in situations that require extra or specialized support.
Because of this, the decision to seek professional counseling is a recommended and ultra-healthy choice to make when going into battle. These highly trained humans have committed their money, time, and lives to the development of their skills and know-how for navigating mass zombie invasions. A counselor may be vital in assisting your fight against especially fierce zombies that friends and well-intending parents have no clue how to handle.
I recommend everyone try at least one session of counseling just for the experience. It can be surprisingly refreshing to have a safe place to unload all your tangled thoughts and release your pent up frustrations. Consider it, and don’t wait until you are overrun with a flood of flesh-eaters to decide you need bigger guns. Enlisting their services may be the best move you can make. Life-saving even.
Keep this Emergency Zombie Hotline saved in case you or a friend ever need it:
988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: Call or text 988.
Grab a Shovel — It’s Time to Start Digging
Now you are ready to explore that intricate and mysterious mind of yours. You have the tactics and strategies necessary to dig through the memories of your past while overcoming any trauma you may stumble across as well. Dig deep. Find the gold hidden away and dispose of the rotting memories of your past so they can’t come back to haunt your future. In a land that contains gold mines in graveyards, picking up your shovel is far braver than most ever dare to venture. Living a great story begins with the story you have already written.