5-22-22 Trigger Tiptoeing
Quote: “At some point, you have to realize that your triggers are your responsibility. It isn’t the world’s obligation to tiptoe around you.”
Triggers are defined as moments that create a powerful reaction to a memory or experience. Unfortunately, many people have had horrific trauma in their past. In order to cope with and function in their present and future lives, they must receive help to deal with what they went through. It is so important to receive medical attention for traumatic events so that we can have the most helpful tools available to combat the curveballs life often throws. I am a huge advocate of mental health services. I have been to a counselor before and highly recommend it!
But I love this quote about triggers. As an adult, it is my responsibility to acknowledge that hey, I’ve got some past wounds that might be having an affect on my present circumstances. I’ve been hurt or had some not so pleasant things happen. I know my triggers. I know dates that are going to trigger bad memories. I know when I see a certain person or go to a certain place, I’m going to feel certain feelings. I can’t just stuff these past experiences away and pretend they don’t exist. I’ve got to be prepared for when they do happen, not just hoping that they won’t.
I can’t expect others to remember or automatically understand my triggers either. That’s not fair. If a date from a hard event is coming up, I’ve got to do the work and front load for my friends and family. I’ve got to say things like, “So next week mark’s the anniversary of _____ and if you could start praying for me, that’d be great.” Or, “I’m going to see_____ from my past so if we could plan a coffee date that night after, that’d be really helpful.” Plan ahead. It is not the obligation of everyone else in my life to know exactly how to handle my past. I’ve got to let them in on how to help me handle my triggers. They can’t help if they don’t know!
But there is someone who knows your past and understands your triggers better than you do. God created you and knows you better than anyone. He says over and over in the Bible that there will be problems. He doesn’t sugar coat it. Evil exists. He says hundreds and hundreds of times that he will be there to help you through the hard times. When the triggers come, he wants you to rely on him. People will let you down but he never will. He will help you cope. When the memories come flooding back or the anxiety starts creeping in, he has a verse to bring you comfort. Did you know that there are 365 verses that mention fear or anxiety? Coincidence that there are 365 days in a year? I think not. He wants us to feel loved and safe in his care when we are at our lowest points. He wants us to rely on his voice – that’s what the Bible does for us.
In Romans 5:3-5, it says, “More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance. And endurance produces character, and character produces hope. And hope does not put us to shame…” I know it seems crazy to yell “Yippee!” when we are in the middle of a painful moment. But can we somehow find a way to look at our problems as leading to something greater? It might help us through the problem. These verses say that over time, sufferings can lead to hope! When we endure suffering, we build endurance. This strengthens our character. And having a strong character means having hope for the future.
sufferings = endurance = character = hope
We must get help to understand our past and triggers. We must also be vulnerable and intentionally let others in on understanding our triggers so they can help us. But we must never forget that God is there to help us through anything we face. He gets us like know else one can!
Only God can change our triggers of pain to triggers of peace.
