When a reaction is bigger than the situation, it’s probably a trigger. The intensity of emotion indicates that something more important is happening.

What causes an argument is an assumption that the other person doesn’t care about what you needed. Underneath a person’s hurt is the pain of not having their needs validated in a previous situation. That pain triggers them to feel more upset than the situation warranted.

So how do you keep those negative reactions from causing major problems? This important read shows how to handle a trigger before it wrecks you or your relationship.