Breaking the cycle of

Triggers
Mrs. Lalitha chandrasekhar
 § what are we supposed to do about them?

Session § How do you identify when you’re feeling triggered?

outcomes § Understanding how triggers form. what they feel like

§ can help you create a strategy for coping with them.
What is a
trigger?
§ Elicits an intense or unexpected emotional response
§ unique from threats.
§ That spark intense negative emotions.
 § The brain encodes the traumatic memories differently.,
than it records non-traumatic memories.

§ Our brain and body have a record of the threatening

How triggers experience.

are formed? § To try and avoid future harm, our brains connect the
fight-or-flight response to trauma reminders.

§ When we’re exposed to a trigger, we react as if we’re

under threat.
Symptoms
 Paired § When an object, event or memory sets off a danger
response in the body.
association
Example
To be triggered

§ have an intense emotional or physical reaction

such as panic attack, or headache after
encountering a trigger
Perceived § Let me ask you a

danger
question?

§ Are you all 100 Percent

safe without any danger
right now?
 § Can be a memory, physical
sensation
Internal § Comes from inside the person.
§ Anger, anxiety, muscle tension.
§ Other include -feeling
overwhelmed.
 § Remind the person
of their unique
experience and
come from the

External environment.
§ Person, place or
specific situation
such as movie, tv
show, experience, a
specific time of day
or specific dates,
certain sounds,
smells.....
 Trigger § How many times have you
listened to a podcast or
warnings watched a tv show ?

§ Was the trigger warning

helpful?

§ Or was the prompt hurtful?

 § chance to mentally prepare us
§ So the warning can prevent this from happening.

Good or bad § Therefore, promoting a safe environment..

 § Calling on your social support
§ Deep breathing exercises
Coping with § Exercise
triggers § Expressive Writing
§ Mindfulness meditation
Your reflections