What do I mean by triggered? Triggers are our emotional response to certain stimuli that often activate a behavioral response to keep ourselves safe from something that our brain perceives as "unsafe"
The limbic system is the part of our brain that alerts us to perceived threats, it signals the fight, flight, freeze response. It does this by storing all sensory memories of our previous experiences so it can judge how to respond in the future. It acts as a filter to help us quickly process, make sense, and respond to similar events.
Unchecked triggers can take a major toll on our lives because, unfortunately, our responses to the triggers can often be hurtful, unsafe, or dysfunctional in some way. Becoming aware of your triggers can allow you to learn how to manage them better and respond in a healthier more helpful way.
Trigger #1 -My own personal trigger! Loud Noises/ Sensory overwhelm
You might still need to heal from growing up or experiencing a chaotic environment.
Trigger #2 - Raised voice/ tones/ look on faces
This is also a personal trigger for me, yelling or raised voices.
You might still need to heal from an unpredictable caregiver or a caregiving that dominated you using fear tactics
"Understanding our triggers empowers us to reclaim control over our emotional responses, enabling us to cultivate resilience and create healthier patterns of thought and behavior" – Dr. Emily Collins, Psychiatrist
Trigger #3 - Most feedback feels like criticism
You might still need to heal from a critical or disapproving caregiver
Trigger #4 - Feeling unimportant to loved ones
You might still need to heal from an unavailable or self-focused caregiver
Trigger #5 - The fear of someone leaving
You might still need to heal from abandonment or rejection
Trigger #6 - Authority / being told what to do
This use to be a trigger for me but I have worked through this one. I was able to process and work through this one by building my self-confidence.
If you are challenged by authority and being told what to do you might still need to heal from being controlled or not being able to have a voice growing up
Trigger #7 - Not feeling worthy or good enough
I have many clients that feel this way. If this is you, you might still need to heal from having to perform or achieve to "earn" love and attention.
Trigger #8 - Worrying someone is upset at your/ worrying what others think about you
You might still need to heal from a harsh caregiver or a very caregiver that led with punishment often
Trigger #9 - Spending money on yourself
You might need to heal from being raised in poverty, a financially stressed household where it was often a topic and focus. or scarcity mindset
Trigger #10 - Feeling like you're a burden
You might need to heal from your needs/ feelings being ignored or shamed
Trigger #11 - Feeling dismissed or invalidated
You might need to heal from not being allowed to have or show emotion. This one still comes up for me from time to time, only with people I'm close with, but I am able to recognize it and express it to them.
Understand that nobody “makes” you feel anything
You’ve probably said to someone at one point, “you made me feel XYZ”. But when you get down to it, nobody can make you feel a certain way. It’s all in your mind.
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