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Have you ever had an intense emotional reaction that just seemed out of proportion to the situation? Is one little thing putting you off? And you can't understand why?

Do you feel anxiety, a flash of anger, or an unexplainable feeling of fear? Or do you feel a sense of “shutdown,” exhaustion, or withdrawal? When we fail to understand where these emotions come from, sometimes these feelings are linked to childhood trauma or unresolved painful experiences from our past. Trauma changes our nervous system to make us extremely sensitive to situations that remind us in some way of the pain or danger of our past trauma.
But when we fail to identify what is behind these emotions, we often feel out of control over our own lives. In this video, you'll discover 7 journaling tips to help you explore how big emotions can be tied to past trauma. And you'll hear about a man whose fear of flying largely disappeared when he did this work. Let's improve our feelings.

Keeping a mental health journal can help you work through big emotions and trauma, it can help you clarify why you feel the way you do. Trauma triggers can really impact your ability to be emotionally healthy. So you can learn how to solve them with these journaling prompts.

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Therapy in Brief and information provided by Emma McAdam is intended for informational and entertainment purposes only and is not a substitute for advice, diagnosis, or treatment regarding medical or mental health problems. Although Emma McAdam is a licensed marriage and family therapist, the opinions expressed on this site or any related content should not be considered medical or psychiatric advice. Always consult your doctor before making any decisions related to your physical or mental health.
In therapy, I use a combination of acceptance and commitment therapy, systems theory, positive psychology, and bio-psycho-social approach to treat mental illness and other challenges we all face in life. The ideas in my videos are frequently adapted from several sources. Many of these come from acceptance and commitment therapy, particularly the work of Steven Hayes, Jason Luoma, and Russ Harris. The sections on stress and the mind-body connection stem from the work of Stephen Porges (polyvagal theory), Peter Levine (somatic experiencing), Francine Shapiro (EMDR), and Bessel Van Der Kolk. I also rely heavily on the work of the Arbinger Institute for my overall understanding of our ability to choose the direction of our lives.
And deeper than all of this, the gospel of Jesus Christ guides my personal worldview and sense of security, peace, hope, and love https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/comeuntochrist/believe

If you are in crisis, please contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/ or 1-800-273-TALK (8255) or your local emergency services .
Copyright Therapy in a Nutshell, LLC
00:00 How trauma triggers can lead to emotional reactivity
00:38 Trauma modifies the nervous system
01:27 A man whose fear of flying was linked to trauma
03:54 Deep emotional memories can be resolved
04:40 Prisoner of war Louis Zamperini had a traumatic reaction triggered by rice.
05:39 Trauma is any event that is too overwhelming to process.
07:34 How to overcome trauma and triggers through journaling – essential precautions
08:25 Basic exercise for anxiety
09:12 7 Journaling invites you to detect trauma triggers

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