Emotional Triggers
Are triggers something "normal"?
The way your limbic system reacts to triggers does not define you. It’s its way of protecting you when it perceives danger. It is activating those alarms to keep you safe, even though they may no longer be necessary. Your ability to "control" or "stop" these alarms does not limit your healing or your growth.
How to deal with triggers
Although triggers can be overwhelming, there are tools to manage the disruptions they cause in your life. The primary goal of these tools is to remind your limbic system that the danger has passed and that you are safe in the present.
One way to do this is to practice mindfulness. Additionally, understanding how trauma affects your brain can help you comprehend why you have triggers and the steps you can take to heal.
Resources to help you manage triggers
Write to me and I will send you three recommendations from my Reposact method. Each of these tools can be effective in helping you manage the triggers you are experiencing.
Depression
What is depression?
A fog, a shadow, a great weight, or an emptiness. This is how many people have described depression, one of the most common mental health conditions...
Reactive depression vs. clinical depression
Reactive depression is temporary and arises as a response to difficult events. Clinical depression is more prolonged and may require therapy or medication.
Symptoms of depression
- Feelings of self-loathing or worthlessness
- Lack of energy or motivation
- Changes in appetite or sleep
- Difficulty concentrating or making decisions
- Feeling empty or numb
- Chronic pain or discomfort
- Despair or deep sadness
- Desire to isolate oneself
- Feeling disconnected from reality or oneself
- Suicidal thoughts*
*Note: If you have suicidal or self-harm thoughts, seek professional help immediately. You can contact 024, the suicide prevention hotline of the Spanish Ministry of Health.
The link between childhood trauma and depression
Childhood trauma significantly increases the risk of mental health problems, including depression. Survival strategies such as emotional numbness or disconnection can become gateways to depression. Additionally, feelings of worthlessness, guilt, and self-loathing reinforce negative beliefs about oneself.
Depression and anxiety
Yes, it is common to experience both, even though they seem opposed. For survivors, this cycle is often driven by anxiety, which keeps the brain in hypervigilance.
Living with this continuous tension can exhaust the mind and body, ultimately leading to depression.
How to face depression
Depression is treatable. Medication, therapy, and support groups are valuable tools. Recognizing your current situation and being honest with yourself is a crucial first step.
Resources to help you manage sadness
Write to me and I will send you three recommendations from my Reposact method for managing deep sadness.
Sleep Disorders
What are sleep disorders?
Sleep disorders frequently interrupt restorative sleep. They can be caused by emotional distress, health issues, genetics, or environment.
Most common sleep problems
- Insomnia
- Nightmares or night terrors
- Waking up multiple times at night
- Restless legs syndrome
- Sleepwalking
- Sleep paralysis
- Bedwetting
- Poor sleep quality
- Bruxism
- Irregular breathing patterns
The link between sleep and childhood trauma
Sleep problems are very common among those who have experienced childhood trauma, affecting the ability to rest and increasing nighttime anxiety. Nightmares and the release of stress hormones reflect that the body is trying to protect itself. Learning to feel safe and relaxed again is possible.
