Going through divorce mediation may help you avoid the acrimony that comes with a courtroom trial. If you are unfamiliar with how to prepare for divorce mediation, consider how to keep a cool head during the process. Since mediation involves working out solutions with your spouse, you may benefit by thinking about what might trigger you emotionally during the sessions.
If you know what could cause you to emotionally react in advance, perhaps from something your spouse might say, you may prepare for it before you begin mediation. Healthline offers some background to help you to understand how emotional triggers work.
A look at emotional triggers
It is important to note that almost every person has an emotional trigger of some kind, so there is no shame in having them. A trigger can be just about anything that provokes a strong emotional response from you. An example might be a topic that makes you uncomfortable. A phrase or word may also trigger intense feelings. A reminder of bad memories or experiences is another example.
Unpleasant experiences that trigger intense emotions can be anything. Some of them may come from your marriage. They may include a betrayal of your trust, criticism of your actions or character, a diminishment of your worth, or some other treatment that you feel is wrong. You may also feel robbed of independence or, conversely, depended on too much by your spouse.
Symptoms of emotional triggers
Emotional triggers can also create physical reactions. Physical manifestations of anxiety, coupled with strong emotions, are strong signs that you have found an emotional trigger. If you receive unjust criticism, you may start shaking or feel sick to your stomach. A stressful situation may also produce a quicker heartbeat. Sweaty palms are another example.
Handling emotional triggers
Emotional triggers take many forms, so how you handle them will depend on your circumstances. The stress of a divorce motivates some people to seek out professional counseling or perform mind-calming techniques like meditation. If possible, some individuals will try to avoid situations that cause intense emotional responses.
If you know certain words or discussions will trigger you, you might work out how to avoid them in your mediation. Sometimes a mediator will speak with the spouses separately. Such options may help make your mediation productive and less likely to cause you emotional distress.