When Triggers Show Up

Dear Echo Breaker,

Let’s get one thing straight: being triggered doesn’t mean you’re weak or broken. It means you’ve been wounded. A trigger is your body’s way of saying: Something here feels familiar and unsafe.

Instead of judging yourself for being triggered, use the moment as information. Pause and ask: What just happened? What story is my body remembering?

Once you name it, you can respond with care instead of shame. Ground yourself:

• Place your feet firmly on the floor and feel the ground hold you.

• Hold an object — a stone, a pen — and focus on its texture.

• Breathe deeply and repeat: That was then, this is now. I am safe in this moment.

Over time, triggers lose intensity. What once sent you spiraling becomes a signal to slow down and tend to yourself. Each time you move through a trigger with compassion, you teach your body: We can feel this and still be safe.

🌱 Your triggers are not proof of failure. They are proof that you survived something worth healing from.

If this resonated, you’re not alone — reach out to explore coaching with me.

Dr. James