What is an emotional trigger? 

Has anyone ever said or done something that makes you want to:

A) throw a brick at their head?

B) Run away and be alone?

C) Become totally invisible? 

If those impulses have run through you - CONGRATULATIONS!!!!! you have experienced an emotional trigger.

Welcome to life! settle in folks it's quite a ride. 

 

 

How does an Emotional Trigger effect the body?

According to Dr. Gabor Mate emotional upset triggers the release of adrenaline and activates the sympathetic nerves, the flight-or-fight component of our nervous system. Muscles throughout the body tighten, including in the walls of arteries. Resistance to flow increases, as does the blood pressure. 

Why Blood Pressure Rises by Dr. Gabor Mate. 

 

 
The_Fight_or_Flight_Response.jpg

What Is the Fight Or Flight Response?

This fundamental physiologic response forms the foundation of modern day stress medicine. The "fight or flight response" is our body's primitive, automatic, inborn response that prepares the body to "fight" or "flee" from perceived attack, harm or threat to our survival.

 

We recommend taking time to look at some additional reading on Emotional Triggers and the way our Fight and Flight mechanism works. Included are Peter Levine who wrote In An Unspoken Voice and Gabor Mate In the Realm of Hungry Ghosts.  http://www.goodreads.com/author/list/142956.Peter_A_Levine

 

 

What Are Examples of Triggers?

Do any of these situations trigger you? Identifying your triggers is the first step to healing from them.

  • Someone rejecting you.
  • Someone leaving you (or the threat that they will).
  • Helplessness over painful situations.
  • Someone discounting or ignoring you.
  • Someone being unavailable to you.
  • Someone giving you a disapproving look.
  • Someone blaming or shaming you.
  • Someone being judgmental or critical of you.
  • Someone being too busy to make time for you.
  • Someone not appearing to be happy to see you.
  • Someone coming on to you sexually in a needy way.
  • Someone trying to control you.
  • Someone being needy, or trying to smother you.

*this was taken from this blog - I found it a helpful starting place.