Emotional Triggers: Understanding Your Brain and How to Keep It in Check (Podcast Episode 324)

Ever found yourself snapping at your partner because they left the toilet seat up (again), only to realize later that your reaction was a tad… over the top? Or maybe you’ve just quit your job because you were so mad that Bob from accounting didn’t get you that spreadsheet on time? Congratulations, you’ve met your emotional triggers. These are the knee-jerk reactions that can turn minor annoyances into full-blown soap operas. But fear not! By understanding what’s going on in your brain, you can learn to keep your cool and maybe even laugh about it later. Today, you’ll learn what emotional triggers are, the science behind them, and my top five ways to soothe those emotional triggers so you can feel in control of your life.

Click here to read the full blog and show notes!

Resources for Emotional Triggers: Understanding Your Brain and How to Keep It in Check

Join the One Love Collective on Patreon!

How to Effectively Deal with Triggers in Your Relationships

Got Family Stress? How to Not Get Trigged by Family

Dealing with Triggers

Abby’s RAS video

Mindfulness Starter Kit

Meditation Starter Kit

How Meditation Benefits Your Relationships and There’s an Easy Way to Learn

Three Holistic Approaches to Your Mental Health

Boundaries Made Easy: Your Roadmap to Connection, Ease and Joy by Dr. Abby Medcalf

Research

Lang, P. J., & Bradley, M. M. (2010). Emotion and the motivational brain. Biological Psychology, 84(3), 437-450. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biopsycho.2009.10.007

LeDoux, Joseph. Rethinking the Emotional Brain, Neuron, Volume 73, Issue 4, 653 – 676

Psychological Triggers: Human Nature, Irrationality, and Why We Do What We Do. The Hidden Influences Behind Our Actions, Thoughts, and Behaviors by Peter Hollins

Gholamrezaei, A., Diest, I. V., Aziz, Q., S. Vlaeyen, J. W., & Oudenhove, L. V. (2021). Psychophysiological responses to various slow, deep breathing techniques. Psychophysiology, 58(2), e13712. https://doi.org/10.1111/psyp.13712

Jensen, M. K., Andersen, S. S., Andersen, S. S., Liboriussen, C. H., Kristensen, S., & Jochumsen, M. (2022). Modulating Heart Rate Variability through Deep Breathing Exercises and Transcutaneous Auricular Vagus Nerve Stimulation: A Study in Healthy Participants and in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis or Systemic Lupus Erythematosus. Sensors, 22(20), 7884. https://doi.org/10.3390/s22207884

Enhancing Coping Skills for Managing Uncomfortable Emotions: A Comprehensive Overview, Sohana Abdul Hamid Universiti Selangor

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