Triggers
Refers to the experience of having an emotional reaction to some type of disturbing content. It is often activated by a stimulus such as a smell, sound, or sight that triggers feelings of trauma.
These feelings may be associated with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Physiological and emotional responses associated with triggers:
- Distress
- Flashbacks
- Sadness
- Anger
- Uncontrollable thoughts about the event, usually
- negative
- Panic attacks
- Severe anxiety
Common triggers:
- The anniversary dates of losses or trauma
- Frightening/traumatic news and events
- Feeling overwhelmed and pressured
- Conflict
- The end of a relationship
- Isolating self from others
- Music
- Abusive behaviour
- Financial problems
- Places
- Being around people who are associated with the
- event
- Being around someone who has mistreated you
- Certain smells, tastes, or noises
Physiological and emotional responses associated with
triggers:
- Tearfulness
- Dissociation
- Sweatiness
- Heart palpitations
- Dizziness
- Feelings of loneliness and abandonment
- Muscle tension
- Frustration
Identifying your triggers:
Ask yourself these questions and write down your responses in your journal. This will help increase your
self-awareness and also familiarize you with your triggers.
- What type of situation are you in? What is
- happening around you?
- What kind of emotions are you feeling?
- What thoughts are you experiencing?
- What does your body feel like?
- Have you experienced anything similar to this before?
Strategies and techniques for managing your triggers:
- Validating and acknowledging your feelings
- Deep breathing
- Expressive writing/ Journaling
- Grounding
- Mindfulness
- Relaxation
- Self-soothing
- Exercising
- Social support- Reach out for help
- Setting and enforcing boundaries with self and others
- Tending to your own garden, fill it up with LOVE
Remember you are not alone in this, there are communities that can assist. Recovery is a journey and it is possible.
