Decode Teen Emotions | Episode 3: Trigger Tracking. What Sets You Off?

Ever explode over something small and wonder why it hit so hard? In this episode, host John sits down with teen emotional wellness expert Susan and 16-year-old guest Brayden to break down one of the most powerful tools for managing your emotions: understanding your triggers. Susan explains what triggers actually are, why they sneak up on you, and how "stacked triggers" can turn a small moment into a big reaction. Brayden gets real about his own patterns, from getting called out at basketball practice to firing off messages in group chats, and walks through Susan's five-step Trigger Tracking Worksheet live on air. By the end of the episode, you'll know how to spot your triggers, read your body's early warning signals, and build a simple plan that actually works. In this episode: What triggers are and why everyone has them How your "emotional battery" changes the way you react The five-step Trigger Tracking Worksheet Why making the gap between trigger and reaction even slightly bigger rewires your brain over time This week's challenge: Pick one trigger, run it through the five steps, and write it down at least once. That's it. The Trigger Tracking Worksheet is attached to this episode — download it and follow along with the five steps at your own pace.  ----more---- Based on the book series by Agnes Blake, including Anger Management for Teens: Mad to Calm and the Teens Emotional Wellness Workbook. Anger Management For Teens - Mad to Calm Teens Emotional Regulation Teens Self Esteem and Emotional Strength Teens Emotional Wellness Workbook