Triggers

In mental health terms, a trigger refers to something that affects your emotional state, often significantly, by causing extreme overwhelm or distress. A trigger affects your ability to remain present in the moment.

I’ve been thinking a lot about triggers lately.

Triggers can be external like the smell of fresh bread or the screech of an ambulance siren. Each signals a behavior. Fresh bread may cultivate hunger or a feeling of comfort. A siren may bring up a feeling of concern or remind one of a sad memory from a past experience with a loved one. Further a notification on your phone may trigger intense curiosity, so strong that one must pick up of the phone and look. The sight of tall grass may cause one to feel they must mow the lawn. All external triggers.

More often than not, even the news can be triggering causing angst, fear, and anger.

Then there are internal triggers. These are more complex and potentially harming. It happens when something (a word, a tone of voice, a visual, or an action) causes a distress.

When we are exposed to a negative triggers we react as if we are under threat. Emotions like discomfort, anger, and fear arise. When we experience a positive trigger we may feel soothed and at peace. Emotions like joy, warmth and love arise.

Some triggers are extremely harmful stemming from a trauma. For example, when a veteran hears fireworks the vet may associate it sound with gunshots causing intense fear, withdrawal and panic. When someone has been physically abused, even a slight touch from an yoga instructor on a pose, can be triggering and harmful. (by the way a yoga teacher should never adjust you in a pose by touching you without asking for your permission first)

I know what triggers me yet with meditation and clarity comes the power to work on changing the response. Yes, even mindful, heart-centered empathetic yoga instructors get triggered. So with all vulnerability, what triggers my me? When I experience or witness name calling or put downs. When sarcasm is backhanded and hurts another. Physical gestures or non verbals that feel dismissive. These triggers can come from a co-worker, boss, family member or friend.

I’m not asking you to share your triggers although I am curious. I hold conversations and information in sacred confidence if you want to talk with me about it. I am asking you to consider getting curious with what causes emotional outbursts or incessant overthinking from triggers that leads to distress and overwhelm. It is with self-examination that one can slowly lean into being fully present and handle a triggers with grace and ease.

It’s all a dance….Diane