Thanks @Former-Member I have had to go as far as to request (in conversation) - that the person please not mention (or re-mention) the bushfires.

Because, as I said (before) - they are not telling me their own experience, or anything personal whatsoever.

They have been simply re-reading (out aloud) media reports etc to me, over the telephone - which frankly I don't need to hear.

I am perfectly capable of reading my own media reports, if I need to.

I can only make this request, when feeling Super-Assertive (in a confident space).

In the case of my Mum, my request that she Not keep talking about it (please) made No Difference - Mum ignored my request (as she often does), & continued to read out Dramatic Media Reports & Horiffic details.

This ended with me being in a badly triggered state - & therefore requiring many hours to recover.

Adge