The Christian and Mental Health: Triggers

Those of us with mental health challenges understand oh too well what it means to have "triggers," those trip-wires that bring about unwanted thoughts or mood swings. I'd like to talk about my experience, and a (potentially) useful approach for dealing with triggers.

Two days ago I encountered the most pushy salesperson ever. Strangely enough, this was at the local car wash. The type of wash/polish you wanted was a "free will" decision, but you had to work through this salesperson to get it. And the pressure to upgrade to a better plan was intense. One of the other peeved customers put it this way--"What part of 'No!' don't you understand?" I was a bit high, hypomanic, that day, and irritability is a well-known symptom. To say I was mad was an understatement. I apologized to the cashier, after having vented my anger to the poor woman. She told me, "He's a salesman after all," which wound me up even more.

Fortunately, I was able to use one of the tools from dialectical behavioral therapy--REST. This stands for Relax, Evaluate, Set an Intention, and Take Action. A so-called "cue" word is often used to start the resting process. For me it's the biblical Hebrew word, ruach, which stands for wind, breath, or spirit (Spirit). But there is a rhyming word, nuach, which means to settle down, to rest. These cue words have quite the effect on me when I breathe deeply, and say them to myself slowly while exhaling. Saying them helps me to settle down.

The "E" in REST means to "Evaluate" the situation with self-talk. I use questions or affirmation statements to take this next step. For example, I ask myself, "Is this a hill you are willing to die on?" Or, "Is working yourself up over this good for you?" But I also use self-affirmation statements to bring reality into the situation. For example, I tell myself, "You don't have to let this guy push your buttons," or "I can get over this."

Next, I "S" or Set an Intention. In my case, having "nuach'ed" myself down from the initial anger, I think about first, whether something should be done, and second, what action might be taken. In my case, I determined that some sort of action was necessary for the sake of others experiencing the same pushy salesperson. One of the customers told me that his wife would no longer take her car to that carwash owing to that pushy salesman. I felt it necessary to take action.

Having "S," Set an intention, I went online and registered a protest with management. I am dubious as to whether my protest will be heard, let alone acted on. And I have begun doing research regarding other carwashes in the area.

So there you have it! Here's hoping you can REST the next time a trigger takes you in directions, mentally and emotionally, not healthy for you. May you nuach in the Great Ruach.

Blessings!

The Christian Bipole