In today’s world, the term “triggered” gets thrown around a lot, but what does it really mean? And what’s actually happening when we feel triggered? Let’s dive into it.

Being triggered simply means having an emotional reaction to something. It could be anything that causes your body and mind to respond in a particular way. This reaction is often subconscious. We don’t decide to be triggered by something. For example, we don’t say to ourselves, “When my husband doesn’t do something the way I asked, I’m going to pop off.” Or, “When my kids talk back to me, I’m going to blow up.” There’s something deeper going on beneath our triggers.

Traumatic experiences are stored in our brains and bodies. So, it’s not just about what’s happening around you but also about your conscious or subconscious associations with that experience. For instance, at a work party, someone makes a crude joke. Everyone else seems to shake it off, but you get super angry or teary-eyed. You might not even know why it was so upsetting to you. It’s because you’ve had some prior trauma, some experience perhaps even decades ago, that’s still stored in your nervous system and is being triggered by the current experience.

Triggers as Time Travel

A trigger is something happening in the present that brings up something from the past. It’s like instant time travel. When triggered, the brain might interpret past traumatic events as current, causing the body to experience symptoms as it did in response to the original trauma. You’re subconsciously reliving that initial trauma, and it often happens so quickly that we might not understand why the current event is so triggering.

Triggers can come in many shapes and forms. Something seemingly benign, like a joke, being ignored, making a mistake, or being micromanaged, can trigger an emotional and somatic reaction. It could be something you see, hear, taste, or smell that transports you and elicits a strong response.

What Can We Do?

This is the work of healing. Exploring our triggers and doing the healing work can be complex and uncomfortable. It’s beneficial to seek support from a great therapist or trauma-informed coach who can help you work through your triggers safely.

Two Tips for Managing Triggers

1. Notice It: Start by noticing when your body and emotions have a strong response. This is a huge first step because it empowers you to do something about it. Observe without judgment and consider keeping a journal to track what happened and how you felt. This can help you identify trends and get curious about what might be going on beneath the surface.
2. Find Regulation Resources: Decide ahead of time on some techniques to try the next time you notice you’re triggered. This could be walking away and taking deep breaths, shaking to release energy, splashing cold water on your face, listening to a certain song, or wrapping yourself in a weighted blanket. Find what works for you to help bring you back to the present.

Ready for Deep Healing?

If you’re aware of certain triggers and ready to do some deep healing, I would love to support you. Book a free discovery call with me through the link in the show notes. We’ll spend 30 minutes together, absolutely free, discussing what you’re noticing and how I can help guide you through it. At the very least, we get to spend some time together, and you make a new mom friend!

I love you – I’m in your corner – talk to you soon!

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