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Sheila M Duane's avatar

Triggers can be debilitating. Thank you.

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Emma Goldman-Sherman's avatar

Yes, they can! Thanks so much, Sheila, for adding to this conversation. I work with triggers as startles to the nervous system. Somatically, a startle is the beginning of any stress response. There is a biological response that gives rise to adrenaline which feels exactly like anger - the emotion that asks us to put up walls and create boundaries. It's so important to assess whether or not there is a real threat in the moment, to let the body know how much adrenaline is needed (usually a lot less than we make) and to help the body safely release the adrenaline that has been released (not at people but with deliberate physical activity). If we don't act, our body can perceive that as being thwarted, and then we can end up in a trauma response (a result of being in fight/flight and not being able to fight or flee). Over the course of a day, many little triggers can increase our stress levels to the point of crashing at night into a trauma response. By responding to each trigger to release the adrenaline physically we can reset back to calm. I teach these responses in my Brave Group Coaching classes and one-on-one...

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Sheila M Duane's avatar

I had a stress response to the writing exercise wherein we were supposed to say goodbye to someone. I left the class and walked my dog.

The heart is a huge house with a lot of crowded rooms.

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Emma Goldman-Sherman's avatar

I am so sorry it was stressful, and I'm glad you were able to protect yourself and hang out with your dog.

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