Trigger Warning: This is all about triggers. Triggers are different for everyone. You never know when they are going to show up. I am sharing in hopes of helping others.
An Emotional Trigger is a response to a person, situation, event, that provokes a strong emotional reaction. For some people, an upsetting or stressful life event, such as bereavement, divorce, illness, redundancy and job or money worries, can be the cause. Often we are not self aware when we are triggered, and fall into reacting prior to sifting through our strong emotional response. If we can be aware of what triggers us we can support the emotions that come with them.
One way to start becoming aware of our triggers is to keep pocket notebook. As you face different emotions throughout the day log your emotion and physical sensations along with what took place prior to experience the emotion. For example: Feeling anxious. Heart racing, sweating. Smelled cool water cologne. Reminded me of X. You may also ask yourself the following question:
What do you think you lost?
What did you not get that you expected?
What do I desired to have?
The sooner we recognize the triggers and our reactions to them the sooner we can determine if they are a real threat or not. Some of the most common emotional triggers are due to our perception that needs aren’t getting or will not get met.
acceptance respect be liked
be understood be needed be valued
be in control be right be treated fairly
attention comfort freedom
peacefulness balance consistency
order predictability love
safety feel included autonomy
fun new challenges independence
It takes practice, but with time the reaction to our emotional triggers could subside, but they may never go away. When you first notice the emotion think through your triggers and responses then log them. When you determine what you want to do next, shift into the emotion that will help you get the best results. The best you can do is to quickly identify when an emotion is triggered and then choose how you want to feel.
I have found deep breathing, meditation and essential oils that support the different emotions. My favorite resource for supporting emotions with essential oils is Emotions & Essential Oils: A Modern Resource for Healing and the Emotions & Essential Oils Wheel.
Here are a few oils with the emotions they support.
Single Oils:
Basil – Anxious, weary, overwhelmed, tired, drained, exhausted, addicted
Bergamot – Despair, low self-esteem, self-judgement, unloveable, hopeless
Cardamom - Inebriated by anger, easily frustrated, objectifying others, blaming, unable to think clearly
Cinnamon - Sexual Abuse, body rejections, fear, controlling, jealousy, sexual repression, over-active sexuality
Clove -Victim, defeated, dominated, enslaved, fear of rejection, intimidated, controlled by others, co-dependent
Copaiba - worthy, self-aware, clarity, forgiven, redefinition of self, purposeful existence
Douglas Fir - generational healing, respect for elders, wisdom, learning from the past
Eucalyptus - able to heal, whole, well, liberated, responsible, encouraged.
Fennel - Lack of desire, shameful, weak sense of self, numb to body signals
Grapefruit – Hate for the body, addiction to food or dieting, eating disorders, anxiety over appearance
Helichrysum - Intense pain, anguish, turmoil, hopeless, despair, sexual trauma, trauma, wounded
Jasmine - Unresolved sexual trauma, resistance to sexuality, sexual addiction
Lime – Apathy, resignation, grief, suicidal thoughts and feelings, discouragement
Patchouli - Body shame and judgment, disconnected from body, ungrounded, body tension
Rose - Bereft of divine love, constricted feelings, closed or broken heart, wounded
Siberian Fir - comforted, forgiveness, perspective, honest, wisdom, living in the present, optimistic, adaptable, peaceful
Spearmint – Fear of public speaking, nervous, timid, afraid to express opinions
Tangerine – Overburdened by responsibilities, downtrodden, heavy-hearted, lack of fun or joy in life
Vetiver – Apathetic, despondent, disconnected, scattered, split, stressed, ungrounded, crisis
White Fir - Feelings that are generational or hereditary, burdened by the issues of others
Wild Orange - abundance, sense of humor, playful, generous, spontaneous, creative, joyful
Blends:
Adaptiv - Reassured, Calm, Clear, Confident, Self-Acceptance, Liberated, trusting, upheld, safe
Balance – Grounding Blend – Undergrounded, unwilling to take responsibility for self or life, disconnected, unstable, scattered
Breathe – Respiratory Blend – Sadness, grief, unloved, distrust
Cheer – Uplifting Blend – Burdened, hopeless, heavy hearted, helpless
Console – Comforting Blend – Grief, loss, traumatized, anxious, restless, emotional pain, unsettled
Citrus Bliss – Invigorating Blend – Fear of self expression, stifled, emotionally imbalanced, low will to live
Deep Blue – Soothing Blend – Resistant to pain, avoidance of emotional issues, hysteria in painful situations, saddness
Forgive – Renewing Blend – Critical, judmental, resentful, bitter, cynical, angry
Hope Blend - Despairing, traumatized, shameful
Passion – Inspiring Blend – Self-denial, regimented, dutiful, joyless
Metabolic Blend (doTerra Slim & Sassy) - self-criticism, worthless, disgust or hate for physical appearance, strict, self-judgment
Motivate – Encouraging Blend – Discouraged, Lack of Motivation, stagnant, unable to move on
PastTense- Tension Blend – Stress, overworked, nervous, burnout, overwhelmed, fatigued
Peace – Reassuring Blend – Controlling, attached, afraid
Serenity – Calming Blend – Resentment, bitter, anger, sadness, perfectionism, unwilling to forgive