The first step is recognizing the triggers that cause emotional or physical responses. If a situation prompts an uncomfortable or negative feeling, ask yourself if it is related to a past experience in your life. Then try to identify the emotion or feelings that you are experiencing as a result of the trigger. Do you get angry, anxious, put yourself down, dwell on past mistakes, or feel a sense of grief for something you have lost?
Once you learn to recognize your triggers, make a plan for what you will do if you encounter that trigger again. Your plan might include:
- Grounding activities
- Stopping negative thoughts
- Deep breathing exercises
- Writing in a journal
- Calling a friend
- Exercising
- Saying a prayer or meditating
If you know that a situation is going to cause you to feel or react negatively, then avoid it or walk away if possible. Don't continue to set yourself up for negative outcomes un-necessarily. Remember that you are in charge of your reactions; the triggers do not have to control you. Through trial and error, you can find ways to push past the effects of negative triggers on your life.