Day 6 Worksheet – Recognizing Your Triggers
Start Date: ___ / ___ / ___
Overview
Today’s focus is on recognizing and addressing emotional triggers. By identifying your
specific feelings using the Feelings Wheel, you can better understand your emotional
responses and choose supportive coping strategies.
Step 1: Initial Trigger Reflection
1. What specifically triggered you right now?
2. Initial Emotional Response:
Step 2: Explore Your Emotions with the Feelings Wheel
Most of the emotions we initially feel are connected to deeper, more specific feelings.
Use the Feelings Wheel (below) to identify your emotions as precisely as possible.
Primary Emotions (Examples):
• Anger: Frustrated, Irritated, Furious, Annoyed
• Sadness: Depressed, Disappointed, Hurt, Lonely
• Fear: Anxious, Worried, Panicked, Overwhelmed
• Joy: Excited, Peaceful, Hopeful, Content
• Disgust: Repulsed, Disappointed, Judgmental
• Surprise: Shocked, Confused, Startled
List the emotions you're currently experiencing (Refer to the feelings wheel below to
get more clarity.):
Step 3: Grounding Questions
Physical Check-In:
• Where do you feel this emotion in your body?
• What physical sensations are you experiencing?
Emotional Exploration:
• What is this emotion trying to tell me? (Be honest with yourself.)
• What do I need right now?
Perspective Shift:
• Is this a current reality or an old pattern?
• What would a compassionate friend say to me right now?
Step 4: Action Plan with Coping Strategies
To process and shift your perspective, choose 2-3 strategies that feel supportive to you:
• Deep breathing
• Meditation
• Journaling
• Physical movement (e.g., walk, yoga)
• Talking to a supportive person
• Professional support
• Other:
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One Small, Kind Action I Can Take Right Now:
Step 5: Reflection
Reflect on what you’ve learned about yourself:
1. What have I learned about myself through this process?
Closing Reminder
• Your feelings are valid.
• Triggers don’t define you.
• Healing is a journey, not a destination.
Take a deep breath—you are doing the work, and that is enough