An emotional trigger is an internal emotional response, often accompanied by a pattern of behaviour, to an external stressor or event. We can be triggered by positive and negative events/stressors, experiencing both positive or negative emotions. The event or stressor connects us emotionally to an event in our past . Negative emotions connected to negative events could be those of anger, frustration, guilt, hurt, fear - and often our response is more extreme than the current event or stressor warrants.

One of the aims of trauma counselling is to enable the memory of a traumatic event to be stored in an appropriate part of the brain. It thus reduces the possibility of triggers related to the memory of the traumatic event in the future

In being able to identify what our triggers are we are able to manage and reduce our responses to situations where we are "triggered". Being "triggered" negatively can interrupt our functioning for the day - we may  feel drained of energy, choose "comfort food" to eat, feel helpless or victimised, experience reduced productivity or project our negative emotions onto others.

If we are able to recognise that we have been triggered we can stabilise our emotions by:

Being aware of, and remaining in the present. The trigger is an event that occurred in the past.

Breathe  deeply and slowly, this will help to centre you

Investigate your response and try to discover/understand what could have lead you to responding emotionally in such a manner - when in your past did you experience the same emotions and physical response in your body. Sometimes simply naming and understanding our response is enough to reduce this triggered response

We can also enter into a form of cognitive "mind talk" where we reason with ourselves about, how we feel, the current reality and our choice to respond to or behave in such a situation

However,  it may be that you need to enter into a process of therapy or counselling in order get assistance with dealing with deep-seated  triggers, particularly in the case of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder

Each of us will have our own set of triggers, recognising them and effectively dealing with them is a path to personal growth and empowerment.