Each for different reasons. Likely, no shock there.
For Wolf, it is a trigger.
How is it a trigger?
It reminds Wolf of his father’s relentless questioning every time he left. For years. That relentlessness can wear on a person. It did upon Wolf.
As for me, it became so repetitive for me to repeat what he cannot remember. Add in repetitively starting a list, again; or trying to remember, again, what we talked about but neither of us wrote down; or, the same pattern of … repeating while I continue to be told “No, that is how you see it, not how it is.” Sometimes that statement is correct. If I can muster my honesty up, I will admit it.
When did it become a trigger?
For Wolf, the closest he has come is when I do it. When, exactly, he is not sure. He is sure it is a trigger. That we both know. Now. For sure!
For me, Dear Diary, it is complicated. Different levels, times and dynamics.
For years, J.C. and repetition were a nightmare. A term, please take note, I can, only fairly recent, describe.
Rusty & Wolf 2019 