How to work through an emotional trigger: Therapist suggests

Triggers are common for every person. When we get triggered by something, we often behave or react in a way we may regret later. Learning to work through our emotional triggers is a journey in itself. Addressing this. Psychologist Nicole LePera wrote, “Every person gets triggered, it’s part of the human experience. Learning to manage Out triggers can completely change our lives and relationships.” Nicole is known for sharing mental health-related tips and insights on her Instagram profile on a regular basis. The Psychologist, in her recent Instagram post, spoke of the need of working through our emotional triggers and learning to embrace our responses.

What is a trigger?

We all have past experiences that can make us get hurt still. When in the present times, we come across events or situations that can open those core wounds, we feel the surge of emotions and end up behaving and reacting to it. This happens because we think that the past is in the present time, and hence, we go back to those times and end up having a big reaction to it. This is often triggered more with us behaving in a child-like manner. It happens because of regression, and we end up going back to our developmental years and the survival mode that we were in.

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Types of triggers:

Being criticised for who we are or being singled out for something can act as a trigger for us. These triggers are based on personal experiences and can vary from person to person. Some of the common triggers are seeing someone in anger or rage, or witnessing someone who is distressed for something. Being controlled or having the feeling of being pressurised to do something can also act as a trigger.

How to work through the triggers:

Fight, flight, freeze or fawn – these are some of the responses of the body. Combined with the nervous system, the body reacts in certain ways to triggers. Triggers flood us emotionally, making it difficult to judge a reaction before portraying it. Some ways to work through triggers are:

Get curious: When the triggers come, it is important to start getting curious of the emotions that we are facing and start addressing them one at a time.

Pause: Before coming up with a reaction, take a pause and say aloud that you are triggered and would like to take some time to breathe and reflect.

Self-soothe: Do things that can calm your nervous system – take a walk, write in a journal or cry.

Respond: instead of reacting to the trigger, let your wide adult self take over and respond to the situation.