Triggers
Probably the most uncomfortable feeling you can have
What is actually going on when you get triggered?
You see/hear/feel/experience something that is either causing a trauma response or a shadow response.
What’s the difference?
Say you feel jealous of somebody or something causing you to feel triggered. This is a shadow response. You see something that you may deeply desire but you feel like it's not possible, you're not good enough or you’ve rejected some part of you that wants that thing. This is all happening in the subconscious - that is why when you conscious desire something (manifest) but can’t seem to receive it - your subconscious is programmed in a way that doesn’t actually think it’s possible so you struggle to call it in.
The trauma response is when the trigger has jolted you back to a traumatic event or feeling from your past. Your brain cannot function logically, you move into survival, anything to stay safe - fight or flight. The intuition is really hard to connect to in this place too.
This can cause a spiral of emotions, it can also jolt you into negative self talk or into numbing behaviors.
So what’s the solution to this
The best thing you can do when you are triggered is to FEEL
Feel the emotion, cry if you need to, let it out, get angry if that’s what you feel, release it. Have practices you can lean on to help support you in this like breathwork. hypnosis, movement (not if this is a numbing behavior for you). You may feel like escaping, but this is a time to lean in not numb out.
If you feel comfortable you can ask questions - Why do I feel this way? Where have I seen this show up in the past? What did I need at that time that I did not receive? Reprogram that - visualize how this would play out for you.
If this is a trauma response that you find difficult to handle - have someone you can call in as support. Hold yourself deeply - nurture yourself.
Triggers are opportunities to see where we are not being ourselves truly, where we feel less than, where we are still holding onto pain.
And yes in the moment they can feel earth shattering - know that this is a chemical response in the brain telling you you are unsafe and you need to leave. But when you hold yourself you will be able to move through it, see it for what it is and move on.
Whereas before you may have run away, numbed, had negative thoughts and the trigger plays out for days maybe weeks at a time.
