September 11, 2025 • 11 mins
Triggers show up in unexpected ways—a song, a smell, a place—and suddenly old pain feels real again. 😔
In this episode, I share how to recognize triggers, what they feel like emotionally, and 3 simple steps to walk through them: pause, name it, and ground yourself.
Remember: triggers don’t define you. Awareness and self-compassion do. 💛
Listen on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.
APPLE PODCAST: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/...
SPOTIFY: https://open.spotify.com/show/...
INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/laur...
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/her-journey-towards-change-life-coaching--2081645/support.
In this episode, I share how to recognize triggers, what they feel like emotionally, and 3 simple steps to walk through them: pause, name it, and ground yourself.
Remember: triggers don’t define you. Awareness and self-compassion do. 💛
Listen on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.
APPLE PODCAST: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/...
SPOTIFY: https://open.spotify.com/show/...
INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/laur...
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/her-journey-towards-change-life-coaching--2081645/support.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:02):
Hi friends, I'm Laura, and welcome to my podcast, Her
Journey Towards Change. This is a faith based life coaching
podcast for women who, like me, are on a journey
to live the best life possible. And then something happens,
something unforeseen, and everything changes. Life feels foreign and you
feel stuck and it's difficult to move forward and reaching
(00:26):
out can be hard. Right. Believe me, I know if
this is you, this podcast is for you. I don't
claim to have all the answers, but I know who does.
God wants more for us, for you and for me.
You were created to live your best life, So I
hope you will go on this journey with me to
(00:48):
a more positive perspective and take those hard steps together
through Her Journey Towards Change. Together, let's break through the
barriers which are holding us back from achieving what God
is to be. So let's go, and I hope you
will go on this journey with me. Hey, guys, welcome
(01:24):
back to the podcast. I'm Laura, your host, and I
am so glad that you're here. If this is your
first time here, I welcome you. If not, welcome you
back again, and I'm glad that you're here. I just
wanted to say, first off, that I am so sorry
(01:45):
to hear about the passing of Charlie Kirk with the
shooting that took place today, and it's just so sad
to see that something like this has happened again, and
it's going to happen again and again and again until
our world and our country, until we are able to
(02:11):
put back what's missing, and that's love, unconditional love, and
God and Christ back in our world again, back in
our hearts. I feel for his family, and my heart
it goes out and I prayer. I'm praying for them
is two small children and his wife. I have no idea.
(02:32):
I just can't even imagine. So again I just want
to say that I'm really, really, I'm just I can't
believe this has happened again. And this kind of leads
into what I want to talk about today, although I
had already planned in advance way before today, what I
(02:54):
was going to speak about talk about today on the show,
which is episode one, and it's about triggers. What are
triggers and you know, how do we deal with and
what do they look like and how to get through it?
And you know, conflict and chaos and confusion. It can
(03:14):
lead to anxiety and leave you feeling triggered by all
the negativity. But I want to get something clear. When
you feel triggered, it's not just all in your head.
Your body and brain are actually reacting to old pain.
(03:35):
There's a part of your brain that just senses danger
and sometimes it just fires before your conscious mind even
can catch up with it. And I think that's why
your chest might tighten up, or your you know, you
get butterflies, your stomach starts churning, and your emotions just
feel so overwhelming and out of control. And understanding this
(04:00):
can make all the difference. It's not weakness, it's just
your body trying to protect you based on your past experiences.
And I think we've all been there at some point.
If not, I know you will be because we're human.
Triggers are are their experiences or actions or events that
(04:23):
can cause someone to relive a traumatic event in some way,
and they sneak up on you in the smallest ways.
For me, it can be a song on the radio
that I haven't heard in a long time, a place
I just walk by or walk into, a smell that
takes me back, or even a phrase someone says, and
(04:49):
then suddenly I'm not in the present moment anymore. I'm
back in a memory I thought I had left behind
and only triggers They can feel heavy. Maybe you feel
a rush of sadness that you can't explain, or a
sudden anger or guilt over something that happened years ago.
(05:14):
Sometimes for me, maybe it's tears that just come out
of nowhere and that lump in your throat that feels
so hard to even breathe. You might feel confused, frustrated,
or even ashamed that this memory still has power over you.
(05:35):
All of this is normal, and your body is letting
you know something old has been stirred up. And if
you're listening right now, I want you to take a
moment and think about this. What are the moments, the places,
or the things that bring up old hurt for you.
(05:56):
Just naming them in your mind is a first step
towards understanding them yourself. And I want to share three
things that has helped me when I'm triggered. The first
one is stop and focus. Well, stop and refocus, take
(06:21):
a breath, and remind yourself this is just a memory.
It's not happening right now. Number two name, name, what
is happening. Say it quietly to yourself I'm feeling triggered
(06:42):
because and then say it out loud because it reminds
you of this memory. Just naming it separates the past
from the present, and that separation matters. Number three, Ground
yourself in the present. And this you know it works
(07:05):
for me. I don't know about anybody else. But touch
something around you, a table, a phone, a book, the
floor beneath your feet, if you're outside, a tree of flower,
the grass. Notice. Notice three things that you can see,
(07:28):
two things that you can hear, and one thing you
can feel. I'll say that again. I want you to
notice three things that you can see, two things that
you can hear, and one thing that you can feel.
Let your senses remind you where you are now in
(07:50):
the moment, not where you were then. And to be honest,
sometimes I mess up. Sometimes I react before I can
push the pause button. And that's okay, because healing isn't
about perfection, it's about practice and awareness. The more we
(08:11):
notice our triggers, the more we can step back, take
a moment and breathe and respond with the intention instead
of the emotion. And here's something else, that I've realized
triggers are actually a reminder of growth. They show us
(08:33):
where we've been hurt. Yeah, I said that right. They
show us where we've been hurt, but they also show
how far we've come. If you've survived the moments that
these triggers come from, you are so much stronger than
you think you are in that moment. So I want
(08:54):
you to do this. When a trigger hits, remind yourself
of this truth. God is with you in these moments,
even when your emotions feel messy or overwhelming. You're not alone.
Walking through triggers with grace and patience is a sign
of strength. And I want to share three verses with
(09:19):
you that help bring peace to me. John fourteen, verse
twenty seven. Peace I leave with you my peace I
give you. I do not give to you as the
world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and
do not be afraid. I'm Matthew six point thirty four. Therefore,
(09:44):
do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself.
Each day has enough trouble of its own. And Proverbs
twelve twenty five. Anxiety in a person's heart weighs them down,
but a good word, cheers them up. I hope that
(10:06):
those verses, if you read those throughout the day, remember them,
keep them close to your heart. I hope they help.
I want you to take a moment right now if
you can, and let that truth sink in. Let it
sink in. You're not carrying this alone. And know this.
(10:28):
Triggers do not define you. They just remind you of
what you've been through and how far you've come because
of it. Just remember that. I want to thank you
for listening today and I'm really grateful that you took
this time for yourself. If this episode helped you even
(10:50):
just a little bit, consider to keep following me along
on Apple podcast or Spotify so that you don't miss
any future episodes. And until then, I want you to
be gentle with yourself. You're doing better than you think
you are, and every small step forward matters, every small
(11:14):
step forward matters. And until next time, Love you, guys.
Hi friends, I'm Laura, and welcome to my podcast, Her
Journey Towards Change. This is a faith based life coaching
podcast for women who, like me, are on a journey
to live the best life possible. And then something happens,
something unforeseen, and everything changes. Life feels foreign and you
feel stuck and it's difficult to move forward and reaching
(00:26):
out can be hard. Right. Believe me, I know if
this is you, this podcast is for you. I don't
claim to have all the answers, but I know who does.
God wants more for us, for you and for me.
You were created to live your best life, So I
hope you will go on this journey with me to
(00:48):
a more positive perspective and take those hard steps together
through Her Journey Towards Change. Together, let's break through the
barriers which are holding us back from achieving what God
is to be. So let's go, and I hope you
will go on this journey with me. Hey, guys, welcome
(01:24):
back to the podcast. I'm Laura, your host, and I
am so glad that you're here. If this is your
first time here, I welcome you. If not, welcome you
back again, and I'm glad that you're here. I just
wanted to say, first off, that I am so sorry
(01:45):
to hear about the passing of Charlie Kirk with the
shooting that took place today, and it's just so sad
to see that something like this has happened again, and
it's going to happen again and again and again until
our world and our country, until we are able to
(02:11):
put back what's missing, and that's love, unconditional love, and
God and Christ back in our world again, back in
our hearts. I feel for his family, and my heart
it goes out and I prayer. I'm praying for them
is two small children and his wife. I have no idea.
(02:32):
I just can't even imagine. So again I just want
to say that I'm really, really, I'm just I can't
believe this has happened again. And this kind of leads
into what I want to talk about today, although I
had already planned in advance way before today, what I
(02:54):
was going to speak about talk about today on the show,
which is episode one, and it's about triggers. What are
triggers and you know, how do we deal with and
what do they look like and how to get through it?
And you know, conflict and chaos and confusion. It can
(03:14):
lead to anxiety and leave you feeling triggered by all
the negativity. But I want to get something clear. When
you feel triggered, it's not just all in your head.
Your body and brain are actually reacting to old pain.
(03:35):
There's a part of your brain that just senses danger
and sometimes it just fires before your conscious mind even
can catch up with it. And I think that's why
your chest might tighten up, or your you know, you
get butterflies, your stomach starts churning, and your emotions just
feel so overwhelming and out of control. And understanding this
(04:00):
can make all the difference. It's not weakness, it's just
your body trying to protect you based on your past experiences.
And I think we've all been there at some point.
If not, I know you will be because we're human.
Triggers are are their experiences or actions or events that
(04:23):
can cause someone to relive a traumatic event in some way,
and they sneak up on you in the smallest ways.
For me, it can be a song on the radio
that I haven't heard in a long time, a place
I just walk by or walk into, a smell that
takes me back, or even a phrase someone says, and
(04:49):
then suddenly I'm not in the present moment anymore. I'm
back in a memory I thought I had left behind
and only triggers They can feel heavy. Maybe you feel
a rush of sadness that you can't explain, or a
sudden anger or guilt over something that happened years ago.
(05:14):
Sometimes for me, maybe it's tears that just come out
of nowhere and that lump in your throat that feels
so hard to even breathe. You might feel confused, frustrated,
or even ashamed that this memory still has power over you.
(05:35):
All of this is normal, and your body is letting
you know something old has been stirred up. And if
you're listening right now, I want you to take a
moment and think about this. What are the moments, the places,
or the things that bring up old hurt for you.
(05:56):
Just naming them in your mind is a first step
towards understanding them yourself. And I want to share three
things that has helped me when I'm triggered. The first
one is stop and focus. Well, stop and refocus, take
(06:21):
a breath, and remind yourself this is just a memory.
It's not happening right now. Number two name, name, what
is happening. Say it quietly to yourself I'm feeling triggered
(06:42):
because and then say it out loud because it reminds
you of this memory. Just naming it separates the past
from the present, and that separation matters. Number three, Ground
yourself in the present. And this you know it works
(07:05):
for me. I don't know about anybody else. But touch
something around you, a table, a phone, a book, the
floor beneath your feet, if you're outside, a tree of flower,
the grass. Notice. Notice three things that you can see,
(07:28):
two things that you can hear, and one thing you
can feel. I'll say that again. I want you to
notice three things that you can see, two things that
you can hear, and one thing that you can feel.
Let your senses remind you where you are now in
(07:50):
the moment, not where you were then. And to be honest,
sometimes I mess up. Sometimes I react before I can
push the pause button. And that's okay, because healing isn't
about perfection, it's about practice and awareness. The more we
(08:11):
notice our triggers, the more we can step back, take
a moment and breathe and respond with the intention instead
of the emotion. And here's something else, that I've realized
triggers are actually a reminder of growth. They show us
(08:33):
where we've been hurt. Yeah, I said that right. They
show us where we've been hurt, but they also show
how far we've come. If you've survived the moments that
these triggers come from, you are so much stronger than
you think you are in that moment. So I want
(08:54):
you to do this. When a trigger hits, remind yourself
of this truth. God is with you in these moments,
even when your emotions feel messy or overwhelming. You're not alone.
Walking through triggers with grace and patience is a sign
of strength. And I want to share three verses with
(09:19):
you that help bring peace to me. John fourteen, verse
twenty seven. Peace I leave with you my peace I
give you. I do not give to you as the
world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and
do not be afraid. I'm Matthew six point thirty four. Therefore,
(09:44):
do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself.
Each day has enough trouble of its own. And Proverbs
twelve twenty five. Anxiety in a person's heart weighs them down,
but a good word, cheers them up. I hope that
(10:06):
those verses, if you read those throughout the day, remember them,
keep them close to your heart. I hope they help.
I want you to take a moment right now if
you can, and let that truth sink in. Let it
sink in. You're not carrying this alone. And know this.
(10:28):
Triggers do not define you. They just remind you of
what you've been through and how far you've come because
of it. Just remember that. I want to thank you
for listening today and I'm really grateful that you took
this time for yourself. If this episode helped you even
(10:50):
just a little bit, consider to keep following me along
on Apple podcast or Spotify so that you don't miss
any future episodes. And until then, I want you to
be gentle with yourself. You're doing better than you think
you are, and every small step forward matters, every small
(11:14):
step forward matters. And until next time, Love you, guys.
Popular Podcasts
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
The Bobby Bones Show
Listen to 'The Bobby Bones Show' by downloading the daily full replay.