It’s useful to find strategies to cope with triggers and make them easier to deal with in light of your role as a parent.

And to help you do this, we’ve constructed a method that will guide you through.

So, let’s find out more about this method and how you can manage your tells and triggers.

How can I manage my tells and triggers?

The method is called Awareness, Acceptance and Action.

Awareness. The first step is becoming more aware, recognising when you are becoming triggered, or at risk of becoming triggered. For example, making an effort to notice your “tells” will help with this. Your tells could be holding your breath, clenching your fists, grinding your teeth, or giving your child a stony look. Although you will feel irritated in the moment when you are experiencing a tell, these should be good warning signs that you’re becoming triggered. Take notice of them, and give yourself a moment to deal with them. This will in turn help you stop yourself from exploding. With practice, awareness can be a very powerful first step for dealing with your tells and triggers.

Acceptance. The next step is acceptance. This is where you find it within you to accept that you’re being triggered. Although it’s normal for people to want to ignore the uncomfortable feelings of being triggered, this will only make things worse and will contribute to your emotions snowballing further. It’s much better to simply acknowledge where you are, what you feel, and why you might feel that way. This will open up the possibility of figuring out how to cope with these feelings, instead of burying your head in the sand!

Action. The final step is to take action. This may sound daunting, especially if you find it hard to face your triggers in the first place. However, taking action is the best way to get through the issues your triggers have created for you. Taking action might come in the form of quitting that job you are miserable at, sorting out your underlying issues with your parents, starting therapy, or even learning to live with your triggers in the healthiest way you can.

How can I manage my tells and triggers?

Managing yourself can help your parenting. Unii explains.