Triggers are the Mirrors into Our Unhealed Wounds

We've all been there before. Someone does something that rubs us the wrong way and suddenly, we're plunged into a flood of negative emotions. We might feel anger, hurt, frustration, or any number of other unpleasant feelings. It's tempting to lash out at the person who triggered us or to try to ignore the feeling and pretend it doesn't exist. However, triggers are actually mirrors for unhealed wounds within ourselves. By working to heal those wounds, we can adjust the way we respond to them in the future.

A trigger is anything—a person, a place, a thing, a memory—that causes us to relive an emotional wound from the past. These wounds could be from our childhood, a previous relationship, or even a traumatic event. When we encounter a trigger, it's like reopening a wound that has not yet had a chance to heal properly.

The next time you find yourself feeling triggered, take some time to reflect on what might be causing the reaction. What wound is this trigger bringing up for you? Once you've identified the wound, start working on healing it. This might involve journaling, talking it out (with the right audience of course), meditation, therapy, or any number of other self-care practices. It's important to be patient with yourself; healing takes time and it's not always easy.

But it certainly is worth it.