Triggers - by David Richo (Paperback)

About the Book

"We lash out in anger. We cry and retreat. We find ourselves paralyzed. Our bodies respond powerfully to triggers, often before our minds catch up to make sense of a situation. This book helps us learn to manage our immediate reactions in these difficult moments. It also goes much deeper to help us understand why we are affected by certain things and the powerful lessons we can learn from these instinctive responses to move towards healing. Bestselling author and psychologist David Richo explains the brain science behind our immediate reactions and discusses fear, anger, sadness, and relationship triggers in depth. When we are triggered, he writes that "we are being bullied by our own unfinished business." By looking deeply at the roots of what provokes us, Richo invites readers to cultivate our inner resources and develop practices to find more peace"--

Book Synopsis

Work with your triggers to find peace in the painful moments and lasting emotional well-being.

Psychotherapist David Richo examines the science of triggers and our reactions of fear, anger, and sadness. He helps us understand why our bodies respond before our minds have a chance to make sense of a situation. By looking deeply at the roots of what provokes us--the words, actions, and even sensory elements like smell--we find opportunities to understand the origins of our triggers and train our bodies to remain calm in the face of painful memories.

The book offers in-the-moment exercises on how to process difficult emotions and physical manifestations in order to to cultivate the inner resources necessary to deal with recurring memories of trauma. When we are triggered, Richo writes, "we are being bullied by our own unfinished business." Explore what your body's knee-jerk reactions can teach you. Triggers: How We Can Stop Reacting and Start Healing acts as a guide to your body's powerful responses, helping you to remain calm under pressure and discover the key to emotional healing.

Review Quotes

"David Richo helps normalize the fact that everyone has triggers--and they can be a gift. Triggers point directly to interrupted spiritual work that can free us from suffering. This book offers creative tools to step aside from reactivity and engage the curiosity that can lead to deeper exploration and truly liberating discoveries."
--Jan Chozen Bays, author of Mindfulness on the Go

"Triggers can be experienced in two ways--as negatives or positives, as automatic reactions or mindfully honed responses. The former is largely not in our conscious awareness, and the latter is what we hope to learn as we journey through life. Using science, philosophy, mindfulness practice, and his own life experiences, author and psychotherapist David Richo helps us develop the tools to do the hard work of examining ourselves, our relationships, and our pasts to heal our wounds and become the person we have the potential to be."
--Sharon Salzberg, author of Real Happiness

"In this potent book, David Richo offers a detailed map of the terrain for healing our triggers. With characteristic clarity, warmth, and depth, he provides a range of tools, insights, and practical exercises to actually do what we've so often heard taught: to respond rather than react. If taken to heart, this book will help us reclaim our power, serve as a catalyst for transformation, and teach us all how to step more fully into caring for each other and our world."
--Oren Jay Sofer, author of Say What You Mean

"With pointed yet compassionate advice, Richo's exploration of triggers will appeal to those interested in the psychological benefits of acknowledging and working to understand troubling experiences."
--Publishers Weekly

"Acknowledging that there are 'no bulletproof vests for the psyche, ' Triggers is an empowering book that reframes triggers as guides into the psychological and spiritual work that needs to be done for deep healing to take place. What once provoked a cascade of damaging emotions becomes an invitation to learn, heal, and give and receive love."
--Foreword Reviews

"Particularly beneficial for anyone suffering from past pain, as well as those seeking to be more proficient at owning their own behavior."
--Library Journal

About the Author

DAVID RICHO, PhD, is a psychotherapist, teacher, and workshop leader whose work emphasizes the benefits of mindfulness and loving-kindness in personal growth and emotional well-being. He is the author of numerous books, including How to Be an Adult in Relationships and The Five Things We Cannot Change.