The Trigger Journal

When we’re talking about triggers and how it relates to mental health- we usually mean a person, place, topic, thought, feeling, item, memory, or thing that sets off a trauma response. In a broader definition, a trigger can also be anything that causes a stress response or an intense emotional reaction like depression or anxiety. I feel like it’s important to talk about both. They both have an impact on our mental health and that's what this journal is all about! The first part of the journal focuses on what situations most often cause trauma. Then we move on to what a response to trauma looks like - the physical and emotional signs that are most common. Next, we build on that foundation to discover what things become triggers. How those triggers may be external (things outside of us like people or objects) or internal (thoughts, memories, and feelings). After that, we move into 32 journaling prompts that focus on the stories behind what triggers you, the things that make you feel more