The trouble with Triggers

Navigating Triggers: Your Path to Emotional Well-being

Hello there, dear reader. Today, I want to dive into a topic that affects each of us at one point or another in our lives: psychological triggers. These emotional landmines, if you will, are often hidden beneath the surface, ready to detonate our emotions at any given moment. Triggers can be immensely troublesome, but understanding them and developing a battle strategy to tackle them is the first step towards emotional well-being.

What are Triggers? So, what exactly is a trigger? A trigger is an external event, circumstance, or even an internal thought or memory that prompts an intense emotional reaction, typically linked to past trauma or negative experiences. These reactions can range from anxiety, anger, and sadness to feelings of helplessness or panic. Triggers can be powerful, turning a seemingly ordinary day into a rollercoaster of emotions.

How Triggers Form Triggers often form as a result of our past experiences and the way our minds and bodies learn to cope with them. Imagine you had a traumatic experience in the past, like a car accident. The sound of screeching tires or the smell of burning rubber might now trigger intense fear and anxiety. Our brains have an incredible capacity to learn from our experiences and adapt to protect us, which is a survival mechanism. But, this mechanism can sometimes backfire, causing certain stimuli to be associated with danger even when there is none.

Triggers can also form due to learned associations. For example, if you’ve repeatedly faced criticism or rejection, you might become hypersensitive to any form of feedback, even if it’s constructive or well-intentioned. This hypersensitivity can lead to an emotional reaction that’s disproportionate to the situation.

What It’s Like to Be “Triggered” Being “triggered” is like being caught in a storm of emotions. It’s an overwhelming experience that can make you feel like you’ve lost control over your thoughts and feelings. It’s as if the past trauma or negative experience is replaying itself, and you’re forced to relive it, even if the current situation doesn’t warrant such a reaction.

Let me share a couple of examples to illustrate what it’s like to be triggered:

1. Social Anxiety Trigger: Imagine you’re at a party, trying to enjoy yourself, when suddenly you overhear a group of people laughing nearby. Your mind races, convincing you that they’re laughing at you. You feel a tightening in your chest, your palms get sweaty, and you desperately want to escape the situation. This is a classic example of social anxiety being triggered by the fear of judgment.
2. Abandonment Trigger: Let’s say you’re in a loving and stable relationship, but your partner needs to work late one evening. As the hours pass, you start to feel overwhelming fear and insecurity, convinced that they’re going to leave you. This is an example of an abandonment trigger, rooted in past experiences of being abandoned or neglected.
3. Being triggered by a loud noise is a jarring and overwhelming experience. In that moment, your body and mind react with an intense surge of fear, panic, or anxiety. It’s like a sudden and unexpected intrusion, causing your heart to race, muscles to tense, and your thoughts to scatter. The noise instantly transports you back to a place of vulnerability, leaving you feeling emotionally and physically shaken. Imagine peacefully working at your desk when a car backfires loudly outside. Your heart races, muscles tense, and your mind instantly flashes back to a traumatic car accident you experienced. Fear and panic flood your thoughts, making it challenging to regain composure. This is what it’s like to be triggered by a loud noise—a rush of emotions and vivid memories that can momentarily take control of your present moment.
4. Being triggered by a smell or scent is like being transported back in time. The aroma acts as a time machine, instantly connecting you with powerful memories and emotions, both positive and negative. It can evoke a sense of nostalgia, comfort, or even discomfort, depending on your past experiences associated with that particular scent. You may feel a rush of emotions, vivid memories, or even physical reactions such as a pit in your stomach or tears in your eyes, all driven by that one scent. For instance, the aroma of freshly baked bread may transport you back to your grandmother’s kitchen, where you felt safe and loved. The sudden whiff of that scent can trigger a flood of memories and emotions, bringing warmth and nostalgia. On the other hand, a scent associated with a traumatic event can plunge you into a state of intense distress, as if you’re reliving that experience all over again, even though you’re physically far from it. Smells have the incredible power to evoke powerful memories and emotions.

The Battle Strategy: Cannabis, NLP, and Hypnosis Therapies Now, let’s talk about how to tackle triggers effectively. I want to introduce you to a battle strategy that combines Cannabis, Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP), and Hypnosis Therapies to help you regain control over your triggers and lead a more balanced and peaceful life.

1. Cannabis Therapy: While Cannabis is often associated with recreational use, it has shown promising potential as a therapeutic tool for managing emotional triggers. It can help alleviate anxiety and depression, making it easier to address the underlying issues that cause triggers. However, it’s essential to use Cannabis responsibly and in moderation, as excessive consumption can lead to its own set of problems.
2. Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP): NLP is a psychological approach that focuses on the connection between language, behavior, and emotions. Through NLP techniques, individuals can rewire their thought patterns and responses to triggers. This therapy can help you reframe your perception of the events and stimuli that trigger you, allowing you to respond in a more balanced and controlled manner.
3. Hypnosis Therapy: Hypnosis is a powerful tool for exploring the root causes of your triggers and reshaping your subconscious mind. With the guidance of a trained therapist, you can dive deep into your past experiences and emotions, uncovering the source of your triggers. By addressing these root causes, you can significantly reduce the intensity and frequency of your triggered reactions.

This combination of therapies forms a solid foundation for your battle strategy against triggers. Cannabis can provide temporary relief from overwhelming emotions, NLP can help you reframe your thought patterns, and Hypnosis Therapy can address the root causes of your triggers, leading to lasting change.

Why This Strategy Works This strategy works because it combines both immediate relief and long-term solutions. Cannabis can offer short-term relief from intense emotional reactions, while NLP and Hypnosis Therapy provide the tools and insights needed to reprogram your mind and heal the wounds that underlie your triggers.

Additionally, it’s essential to remember that this battle strategy is not one-size-fits-all. Each person’s triggers and experiences are unique, and what works for one may not work for another. The guidance of a trained professional, like myself, Green Irene, can make a significant difference in customizing the strategy to suit your specific needs and circumstances.

If you’re struggling with triggers and want to regain control of your emotions, I invite you to book a call with me at www.greenirene.ca. Together, we can explore the best approach for your individual journey to emotional well-being.

In conclusion, triggers can be incredibly troublesome, but with the right battle strategy, you can learn to manage and even overcome them. By incorporating Cannabis, NLP, and Hypnosis Therapies, you can gain control over your reactions and find a path to healing. Remember that you don’t have to face this journey alone. I’m here to offer my support and guidance, so don’t hesitate to reach out. Your emotional well-being is worth it, and I’m here to help you every step of the way.