Day 4 -  Start Recording Your Triggers

Hi {!firstname_fix}

Welcome back to the Journaling for Mental Health email series! Today, we’re going to 
talk about something specific you can record in your journal, which is to write down your 
triggers. A trigger can be anything that triggers an emotional or physical response, from 
allergens or drinking something, to dealing with a stressful situation. The trigger can be 
different for everyone, so in terms of your mental health, you really need to narrow down 
your triggers.

Why should you record your triggers?

Because it helps you figure out what might be peaking your anxiety, stress, or 
depressive episodes, allowing you to ignore certain situations and hopefully relieve 
these side effects. 

All you need to do to record your triggers is to write in your journal every day about how 
you are feeling, what you are doing, and details about things like eating or drinking, or 
even smoking a cigarette. If you noticed that after a second cup of coffee, you had 
worse anxiety, and then notice a pattern over multiple days, you might have a trigger of 
caffeine. This can work for so many things. 

Sometimes it is subtle, such as spending time with someone that causes you stress, 
even though you didn’t realize it better. This is why looking for a pattern is crucial. 

Check back tomorrow to read about other notes you can put in your journal.

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