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Alex DS Ellis, MA, LMFT
Marriage & Family Therapist
Feeling depressed or anxious can be so overwhelming. I want to help you feel better and be able to enjoy life. You are not alone and you deserve emotional support.
Top Rated Answers
I'd suggest either avoiding triggers, even if it is tempting, or becoming desensitised to them! Just think - it's only some words/a photo, what harm can it really do me?
I've found that stopping myself from looking at things that trigger me help. I don't purposely put myself into situations that are triggering. I also have a plan to handle when I am triggered, involving breathing, using a distraction from my anti-anxiety kit I made like coloring or playing video games
Anonymous
June 9th, 2015 12:36pm
I used to look at things that I knew would trigger me, yet I could never stop looking at them. You should identify the things that trigger you by writing in a diary so that you can try to avoid them. Ultimately there will always be triggers that you see and can't control, it's about learning how to deal with these triggers.
Avoid looking things up online that may trigger you, maybe whenever you begin to feel triggered try out some methods to help calm you down. Refer to the 7 cups anxiety guide.
Focus on the things that make you happy, if you get an urge you've got to use your energy in a more positive way.
Anonymous
May 1st, 2017 4:53pm
First step is to recognize your triggers. You can't stop it if you don't know what triggers your behaviour. Next step depends about the issue but it's either avoiding the triggers or processing and managing your feelings and working them to the point you don't get triggered anymore. There is not short cuts for healing.
Accept yourself as powerful instead of as victim to remove the veil of self-deception. When you seek to identify what is triggering how you feel in the moment, you give yourself the chance to feel differently if you want to. You will also have more clarity on what you need to do or what you need to ask for to change your circumstances.
The strengths that have helped in life are also your greatest emotional triggers when you feel someone is not honoring one of them. When your brain perceives that someone has taken or plans to take one of these important things away from you, your emotions are triggered.
Anonymous
August 15th, 2015 7:42pm
Don't go the places that trigger you, dont think the thoughts. Fill your mind with positive, pursue the positive and eventually you will see the good seed that you have planted come up with more abundance than the bad.
It depends on what it is, try not to think about what triggers you and it won't effect you anymore.
Find other things to focus yourself on like hobbies. they're a great way to avoid thinking about it.
Think about what triggers you, and take a deep breathe, and relax and then ask yourself, what can I do instead of getting triggered? I'm wonder about this myself from time to time, when I'm triggered. And you don't have to come up with an answer immediately. Its enough just to keep the question in your mind, and allow yourself to consider possibilities. Even if you can't, just try it anyways and without the pressure of having to have an answer, just the question is fine, allow yourself to question it, and mull it over in a calm and relaxed way. Keep thinking about. :D
By not getting involved in those things that might have a chance to trigger you and make you feel vulnerable.
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