Why Am I So Triggered Lately?

Ever find yourself thinking, “Why am I reacting like this?” Maybe it’s a small comment that suddenly sends your nervous system into overdrive. Or a change in plans that makes your chest tighten. Or maybe everything just feels a little too much lately—and you can’t quite explain why.

If you’re feeling more sensitive, more anxious, more reactive… you're not alone. And more importantly, there’s nothing wrong with you.

Triggers Aren’t Random

When we’re feeling “extra triggered,” our first instinct is often to judge ourselves. “I should be over this by now.” “This shouldn’t bother me so much.” But triggers are messengers, not flaws. They’re clues that something inside us—often a younger part, a hurt part, a protective part—is asking for our attention.

Sometimes they come up because we’re doing deep inner work. Sometimes they surface because life has gotten loud and our nervous system is just trying to keep up.

It Might Not Be About Right Now

Here’s the tricky part: when we’re triggered, it feels like it’s all about the present moment. But often, the intensity we feel isn’t just about what’s happening—it’s about what it reminds us of.

That comment from your partner? Maybe it taps into an old wound of feeling unheard. The overwhelm at work? Maybe it mirrors a time when everything was on your shoulders and no one showed up for you.

Our bodies remember, even when our minds don’t. And when something current echoes something old, our system lights up in self-protection mode.

Your Nervous System Might Be on High Alert

If you’ve been under stress for a while—emotionally, physically, even subconsciously—your window of tolerance (aka your capacity to handle stress) might have narrowed. That means things that wouldn’t normally rock your boat feel like a tidal wave now.

This isn’t weakness. It’s biology.

Our nervous system was never meant to run on overdrive. When it does, it gets stuck in patterns like hypervigilance, shutdown, or irritability—not because we’re broken, but because we’ve been trying to survive something for a long time.

Healing Can Actually Make Things Feel Louder (at First)

If you’ve been doing trauma work—whether through therapy, Brainspotting, inner child work, or somatic tools—you might notice more triggers coming up. That doesn’t mean it’s not working. It usually means the things you’ve had to push down for years are finally safe enough to surface.

It’s like cleaning out a messy closet: it often looks worse before it gets better. But that’s part of the process.

So What Can You Do?

If this resonates with you, a few gentle reminders:

🌿 Ground yourself first. Before trying to figure out the trigger, help your body feel a little more safe. Breathwork, movement, tapping, or even just holding something warm can help.

🌿 Get curious, not judgmental. Ask: What does this reaction remind me of? What part of me is showing up right now?

🌿 Slow down. You don’t have to fix it all today. Just being with yourself in a compassionate way is powerful.

🌿 You’re not going backward. If you’re more triggered lately, it might mean your system is ready to do some deeper healing. You’re not stuck—you’re shifting.

Healing isn’t linear. And being triggered doesn’t mean you’re failing—it usually means something inside you is finally getting a voice.

Be gentle with yourself. You’re doing hard, beautiful work—even if it doesn’t always feel like it.

How Brainspotting Can Help When You’re Feeling Triggered

Brainspotting is a powerful, trauma-informed therapy technique that helps you access and process difficult emotions and memories that are often stuck beneath your awareness. When you’re feeling triggered, your nervous system is activated in ways that can feel overwhelming or confusing. Brainspotting helps you tune into the specific “brainspots” — subtle eye positions linked to these emotional experiences — allowing your brain and body to gently process and release stuck trauma and distress.

This method supports your nervous system in calming down and helps you build new, healthier ways of responding to triggers. Many people find that Brainspotting creates shifts in emotional regulation, reduces anxiety, and helps them reconnect with a sense of safety and control—exactly what’s needed when triggers feel intense or overwhelming.

If you’ve been feeling more triggered lately and want support making sense of it, I’d love to help! Learn more about how we can work together by clicking the button below.

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