When Kink Becomes Heavy-Lifting for Consent

I've been in the kink scene for a while now, but recently I've hit a snag that's really testing my boundaries and understanding of what it means to respect consent. My partner, let’s call her Anna, is into BDSM play quite intensely, which includes verbal humiliation and some role-play elements. We have solid safe words and established limits that we adhere to, yet there's this one aspect I’m struggling with, she enjoys playing a dominatrix character who sometimes has a harsh edge when it comes to discipline. This can get emotionally intense for her and me, but within our agreed-upon framework, it feels consensual. The trouble began when Anna started pushing against my limits in terms of what kind of humiliation I'm comfortable with. It's not that I don't enjoy the role-play; rather, there are certain words or scenarios she brings up that trigger personal memories from my past. These aren't necessarily negative experiences, but they do involve a level of vulnerability and self-reflection that can be challenging to navigate during play. After one particularly intense session where this came up, I found myself questioning if it was fair to bring these triggers into the dynamic. On one hand, I feel like it's important for both of us to push our boundaries occasionally in a safe space; on the other hand, there's something about mixing personal history with play that feels... invasive? Maybe even disrespectful to my own experiences? I know Anna isn't trying to exploit anything or disregard what we've established. She genuinely sees it as part of the game and believes that pushing these buttons helps us grow closer through mutual understanding and empathy. But I'm not sure if I’m being fair by not expressing more reservations upfront, even though there have been no hard lines crossed. So here's my confession: how do you balance exploring your partner’s (and your own) emotional triggers in the realm of kink when it starts feeling like a personal territory is being encroached upon? Should I be more explicit about these boundaries, or am I overthinking this within our mutually agreed-upon framework? Your thoughts would mean so much to me right now.