What Are Emotional Triggers?

Emotional triggers can alter our usual responses to situations. When faced with an emotionally triggering event, our reactions become instinctual. This can lead to responses that may not be suitable for the situation, potentially causing harm to others. Approach these behaviors with understanding and kindness. Emotional triggers are often linked to past traumas, so addressing and healing from these emotional triggers can lead to improved behaviors. Read on to learn more about what triggers emotions, explore some emotional triggers examples, and discover how to heal emotional triggers.

Examples of Emotional Triggers

Understanding our emotional responses can be complex. Emotional triggers, regardless of our current mental state, prompt intense feelings. Sometimes, these triggers are evident, while at other times, their ambiguity can lead to confusion and unexpected emotional reactions. These triggers often provoke a reaction when we feel our needs in these areas are unmet.

Here are some examples of triggers in mental health:

1. Respect
2. Love
3. Safety
4. Attention
5. Fun
6. Order
7. Variety
8. Acceptance
9. Comfort
10. Freedom
11. Autonomy
12. Predictability
13. New challenges
14. Peacefulness
15. Balance

Some of this list of emotional triggers may resonate strongly with you, others might not affect you as much.

When it seems that someone might take away something vital to you, emotional triggers are often activated. This can lead to a loss of trust and potentially damaging reactions that might harm future relationships. Recognizing when you’re reacting to these triggers allows you to explore if there is a deeper reason for your response – unresolved trauma, for instance.

How to Deal with Emotional Triggers

Trigger identification is the first phase. If you don’t know how to identify triggers, observe and acknowledge strong emotional responses in various situations. Notice not just the emotional surge but also physical anxiety symptoms, such as:

• Rapid heartbeat
• Stomach discomfort
• Feeling shaky or dizzy
• Sweaty hands

When these symptoms emerge, pause to evaluate the triggering event and your reaction to it.

For example, imagine spending your day meticulously cleaning and reorganizing your home. Eagerly anticipating your partner’s reaction upon their return, you find they barely acknowledge the change, focusing instead on their routine activities. The lack of recognition for your effort stirs feelings of anger and disappointment. You feel your heart race and jaws tighten, struggling to restrain from making a sharp comment.

To understand these emotions, trace them back to similar past experiences. Perhaps it reminds you of your teenage years, striving for the approval of an often-absent parent, feeling that your efforts were never quite enough. In this scenario, the apparent indifference of your partner triggers those deep-seated feelings of inadequacy.

When the connection between past and present is not obvious, you may need to dig deeper. Embrace these strong emotions with an open mind, seeking to understand the underlying trigger. Look for patterns. For example, discussions about relationships might evoke envy and frustration, possibly stemming from a fear of solitude.

Awareness of your triggers is the first step in addressing them. Identifying and managing emotional triggers is more complex than simply avoiding situations that provoke them, though. In reality, it’s almost impossible to evade all challenging scenarios, and unexpected emotions are a natural part of life. Rather than aiming to escape these situations, it’s more practical to prepare for handling potential triggers in everyday life.

When an emotion is triggered, the first step is to acknowledge and accept the feeling, whether it’s sadness, anger, fear, or frustration. Recognizing and accepting your emotions is important because denying them often exacerbates the issue. Try to differentiate between past and present situations and approach this with self-compassion rather than self-judgment.

For example, if a co-worker’s innocent question about your book triggers memories of past teasing and leads to feelings of anxiety, recognize that the current situation is different. This understanding can empower you to choose a different response, like sharing a bit about the book or inquiring about their reading preferences.

Sometimes, distancing yourself physically from the situation can prevent emotional overwhelm. Taking a short break and engaging in calming activities like breathing exercises can provide the space needed to avoid impulsive reactions and return to the situation with a clearer mindset.

Remember that most people are not intentionally trying to upset you. Their actions might be influenced by their own triggers or external factors. For instance, a partner who doesn’t immediately notice changes in the house might be preoccupied with their own concerns. Understanding that everyone has their emotional complexities can aid in interpreting situations more accurately.

Communication is key in addressing situations where someone else’s actions trigger an emotional response. Using calm, assertive language and I-statements can help express your feelings without escalating the situation. For example, rather than angrily questioning a missing item, a calm explanation of your frustration can be more effective. In cases of misunderstanding, asking for clarification or expressing your feelings can encourage better communication and understanding.

When you become aware of an emotional reaction, change your emotional state to understand the trigger more fully. Try this method to facilitate the shift:

• Relax: Take deep breaths and let go of any physical tension.
• Detach: Empty your mind of all current thoughts.
• Center: Bring your focus to the area just below your navel, feeling the rhythm of your breathing.
• Focus: Select a single word that captures the feeling or identity you wish to embody in that moment.

This approach might not suit everyone. If you are struggling to manage your emotional response, take some time for yourself. Seeking assistance from a professional can be highly beneficial.

Getting Treatment for Emotional Triggers

Addressing emotional triggers effectively often requires more than self-help techniques. Emotional triggers, especially when rooted in deep-seated issues or trauma, can significantly impact daily life and relationships. Seeking professional treatment is a proactive way to understand and manage these triggers, leading to improved mental health and well-being.

• Therapy: Engaging with a therapist, particularly one who specializes in CBT (cognitive-behavioral therapy), can be incredibly effective. CBT helps in identifying the thought patterns that lead to emotional reactions and teaches strategies to cope with them. Therapists may also use other approaches like DBT (dialectical behavior therapy) or psychodynamic therapy, depending on individual needs.
• Support groups: Joining a support group can provide a sense of community and shared experience. These groups offer a safe space to discuss triggers and learn from others who have faced similar challenges.
• Mindfulness and stress reduction techniques: Practices like mindfulness, meditation, and yoga can help in gaining better control over emotional responses. These techniques encourage a focus on the present moment and foster a sense of calm, which can be particularly helpful in managing triggers.
• Medications: In some cases, medication may be recommended, especially if the emotional triggers are part of a broader mental health condition like anxiety or depression. Medications can help manage the symptoms, making it easier to engage in therapy and other treatments.
• Lifestyle changes: Incorporating healthy lifestyle choices such as regular exercise, a balanced diet, and adequate sleep can bolster overall mental health, making it easier to handle emotional triggers.
• Education and self-awareness: Educating yourself about emotional triggers and their origins is a significant part of the treatment process. Understanding the reasons underpinning emotional reactions can promote greater self-awareness and control.
• Professional workshops and seminars: Attending workshops and seminars focused on emotional regulation and mental health can provide additional tools and insights for managing triggers.

Remember, each person’s journey in dealing with emotional triggers is unique. What works for one person may not work for another, so explore various options and find what suits you best. Professional guidance is key in navigating this journey effectively. 

Get Treatment for Emotional Triggers at Connections

We advocate for mental health at Connections by helping individuals with personality disorders, mood disorders, or depressive disorders engage with evidence-based mental health treatment in Southern California.

Our beachside treatment center is designed to make you feel at home as you participate in a highly personalized therapy that may include medications, motivational therapies, talk therapies like CBT or DBT, counseling, and holistic interventions. This whole-body approach to healing enables you to improve functioning and develop healthy coping mechanisms to deal with emotional triggers in your life.

At Connections, we choose to limit intake to six people at any one time. This ensures that you don’t feel overwhelmed, guarantees you plenty of personal attention, and still allows you to benefit from the power of peer support. When you are ready to attack emotional triggers head-on, call 844-759-0999 for immediate assistance and immersive treatment in Southern California.