Your emotional triggers aren’t signs of weakness — they’re teachers. Learn how to work with them using the EDHIR® Framework.
For years, I thought my emotional reactions meant something was wrong with me. If I cried too easily, got defensive in conversations, or felt overwhelmed by criticism, I saw it as weakness.
Maybe you’ve felt that too — that your “triggers” are proof you’re broken.
But here’s what I’ve learned: triggers aren’t flaws. They’re teachers. They show us where healing is needed, where our past is asking for attention, and where we have the chance to grow.
Sensory overload is when your nervous system gets overwhelmed by too much input at once. Think:
‣Bright screens late at night
‣Constant notifications buzzing
‣Background noise stacked on top of conversations
‣Juggling multiple tasks with no pause
Your brain can only filter so much. When the input keeps coming, your body stays stuck in “alert” mode. The result? Irritability, poor sleep, anxiety, or feeling numb and disconnected.
Ayurveda recognized this long before we had words like “blue light” or “push notifications.” It teaches that misusing the senses — over-feeding them, ignoring them, or exposing them at the wrong times — leads to imbalance.
An emotional trigger is anything — a word, tone, situation, or memory — that sets off a strong emotional reaction. It often feels bigger than the moment itself because it touches something deeper inside you.
Someone raises their voice → You feel like you’re back in childhood conflict.
A partner cancels plans → You feel the sting of abandonment.
A work critique → You hear echoes of “never enough.”
It’s not just the present moment. It’s the past resurfacing.
The Old Way: Fighting or Avoiding Triggers
Most of us try to “fix” our triggers by:
‣Suppressing them (“I shouldn’t feel this way”)
‣Avoiding them (“I’ll just stay away from people who upset me”)
‣Or exploding from them (“I can’t help it — I just lash out”)
But these strategies don’t work long term. Why? Because the trigger isn’t the enemy. It’s a signal. Ignoring it is like putting tape over your car’s check engine light.
Ayurveda teaches that imbalance often comes from what’s called pragya aparadh — acting against your own wisdom. In plain English, it’s when we know better but can’t seem to do better.
Triggers are one of the ways that wisdom shows up. They’re the body and mind’s way of saying:
“Hey, something here needs attention. Please don’t ignore me.”
When you listen, you can respond differently. When you ignore, the tension builds.
A Framework for Working With Triggers (EDHIR®)
I developed the EDHIR® Framework as a simple way to “digest” emotional triggers instead of being consumed by them.
E — Experience: Notice what’s happening without judgment.
D — Digest: Breathe and create space before reacting.
H — Honor: Acknowledge the feeling. Let it be valid.
I — Integrate: Ask what this reaction is teaching you.
R — Release: Choose a new response and let the old pattern loosen.
This is not about perfection. It’s about practice. Each time you use EDHIR®, you train your mind and body to respond instead of react.
I’ll never forget the first time I used this process. Someone I loved said something dismissive, and I felt that familiar surge of anger. My old pattern would have been snapping back or shutting down.
Instead, I paused. I took a breath. I silently said, “This hurts. I feel unseen.”
And in that pause, I realized — this wasn’t about the present. It was an old wound asking for care. For the first time, I didn’t explode or abandon myself. I responded from awareness instead of pain.
That moment changed everything. Not because I “got rid” of triggers, but because I learned how to work with them.
Practical Steps to Try Today
1. Pause when you feel the surge. Even two seconds of breathing makes a difference.
2. Name the feeling. Say to yourself: “I feel angry. I feel scared. I feel hurt.” Naming disarms shame.
3. Ask what it reminds you of. Often it’s not just about the present.
4. Choose one small, different response. It might be softer words, walking away, or journaling instead of reacting.
Are triggers a sign of trauma?
Not always. Everyone has triggers. But for some, triggers connect to deeper trauma.
Can you ever get rid of triggers?
Sometimes, more importantly, you can change your relationship with them. Over time, their grip weakens.
Is it possible to work on triggers alone?
Yes, with tools like EDHIR®. But community or professional support can help when wounds feel too heavy.
How long does it take to change a reaction?
Every step counts. Even one pause is progress. Think of it as building a new muscle.
If you’re triggered often, it doesn’t mean you’re weak or flawed. It means you’re human — and your inner world is asking for care.
When you shift from fighting triggers to learning from them, every reaction becomes an invitation to deeper self-understanding.
If you want to go deeper with this process, I teach the complete EDHIR® Framework inside my course, Abundance Beyond Trauma. It’s a step-by-step guide to working with your emotions in a way that builds safety, balance, and resilience.
👉 [Explore the course here]
And if you’d like a gentle first step, download my free guide: [10 Easy Steps to Turn Your Triggers Into Tools]. It’s a companion resource that helps you practice these ideas right away.
With love,
Jeannine
