Hi, ObsidianButterfly! Oh, heck, yeah, other people CAN trigger depression. My mother has historically won the award for my best depression trigger. My former T could always count on a phone call the day after I would go visit my mother.

Also, sometimes other folks can be triggers for me, too. I know a couple of grumpy people who are always complaining, and I don't need that when I am having trouble being positive myself. As far as handling them, I just don't spend much time with them. In fact, no more than I have to. I even have to be careful about getting pulled down on PC, and I am careful how much time I spend trying to help other people who are in distress when I'm not very stable myself. It's not that I don't care, but I have to look after my own mental health, too. My T recommended this approach.

I am still learning to cope with my mother, after years of therapy. I am not as sensitive to her remarks as I once was, and I take them with a grain of salt.

I certainly don't feel guilty about avoiding the people who trigger me. I even just call or spend time with my mom after I prepare myself mentally, and put up that wall that she can't penetrate.