Episode Summary:Triggers can be some of the most challenging aspects of healing. Whether it’s a scent, a song, a place, or a sudden reminder, they can hijack our nervous system and throw us back into past pain. In today’s episode, we’re diving deep into how to recognize, cope with, and ultimately move through these moments of emotional ambush.

I’ll also share insights from the community, personal experiences, and the ways I’ve seen triggers evolve over time. Healing isn’t linear, but progress is possible, and today, we’re talking about how to navigate it with compassion.

Episode Highlights:

- Understanding how triggers affect our nervous system

- How to create distance, reframe, and challenge emotional responses

- Strategies like grounding techniques, movement, and mindfulness

- The power of creating new associations with places, dates, and experiences

- Therapeutic approaches like EMDR, Brainspotting, and exposure therapy

Journal Prompts to Reflect On:

- What triggers have faded over time that once felt impossible to handle?

- What small coping mechanisms have you developed that others might not notice?

- How has your recovery time changed when you encounter triggers?

- What places or things would you like to reclaim from triggering associations?

- What would you say to yourself in the earliest days post-separation about triggers?

This Week’s Glimmers:

- The way sunlight created patterns on my kitchen wall

- My dog’s excitement when I got home from DoorDash

- Finding the perfect produce while grocery shopping for a customer

- A text from a friend who asked, "No, really, how are you?"

- Successfully sticking with my “montage moments” schedule despite my ADHD challenges

Resources & Links:

My book, Daily Sparkles, is coming out on March 18th. Pre-order now: https://geni.us/DailySparkles

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