Trigger Warning: How to approach your triggers

A simple step for turning your triggered moments into treasure.

Let’s face it, being triggered is an uncomfortable experience; tension building in the body and surges of anger pulsing through us. We may experience the pain of keeping our mouth shut as we try to contain our emotions, or we may be recovering from the aftermath of an intense explosion. Either way when we are triggered, often our natural impulse is to flee, shut down, or have an extreme reaction. Whatever our response, afterwards we commonly follow the impulse to get away from discomfort and push away our emotions without fully acknowledging them.

Triggers are problematic because they create a cycle. It's like a never-ending tape playing over and over again, keeping us stuck in the same place. But if we don't give ourselves the opportunity to fully process these triggers and let them pass through our minds and bodies, that tape will continue to play. We must make room for these triggers, giving them time and love to be fully experienced by our entire being.

I want to share my process of approaching the delicate situation of holding space for our triggers. Essentially what I describe in the video below is a pattern interrupt. Instead of following the same old routine when triggered, whether that be avoidance or the same behavior every time, we are choosing to break the cycle and create something new. The trigger is an imprint left by external forces and may have societal or familial roots, or may stem from past traumas. By interrupting this pattern, we make room for our true selves to emerge in place of this old imprint. We allow space for our unique problem-solving abilities, desires, and creativity to shine through authentically. I have found this to be a crucial step in accessing our intuition and making more aligned decisions.

As uncomfortable as it is, the past few years I've made an intention to go into my triggers.  What I have found is that behind every trigger is a huge lesson waiting for me with unexpected treasures. 

When I say “go into my triggers” I'm not necessarily reliving my traumas, attaching more deeply to my stories, or defining myself by these episodes. All I am doing is a very simple practice: Allowing space and time for these thoughts, emotions and sensations. 

This practice may sound too simple to be effective, however I challenge you to try it. In my video I describe more thoroughly how I approach triggers and guide myself through this process.

About the Author:

Joy Dettling has come to understand true healing as a continual process of self-discovery, authentic embodiment and the outward sharing of our unique gifts.  With her distinctive approach, she helps others to find richness, understanding and enjoyment in the challenging journey of self-healing.

In addition to her inspired writing, Joy supports individuals through her Active Mirroring sessions. Through this intuitive energy work she brings accelerated healing to the whole being. To find out more about Joy and her work please visit https://ignitelife.net/

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