Reacting vs. Responding: Navigating Emotional Triggers

Reacting vs. Responding: Creating Space When You’re TriggeredJoy and Rebecca, two licensed therapists with over 20 years’ experience each, return to the Laugh Cry Club after missing an episode due to Joy’s dad being hospitalized following a lawnmower accident. They discuss how modern life and social media amplify constant reactivity, and explain reacting as immediate, emotion-driven, threat-based responses versus responding as intentional, values-based actions that create space. They describe how survival mode reduces executive functioning and why simple tools like breathing, changing environments, using the five senses, visualization, “sleep on it,” delaying replies 24–48 hours, and writing messages to yourself can help prevent impulsive texts or emails. Examples include road rage and Joy’s reactive confrontation with an intoxicated concertgoer. They invite listener questions and voice memos for their upcoming 100th episode.00:00 Welcome Back Updates00:26 Why We Missed Last Week00:48 Therapists And Today Topic01:24 Living In Reaction Mode03:43 Hormones And Self Compassion05:10 Survival Brain And Coping05:59 Breathing And Anxiety Spiral06:52 Reacting Versus Responding Basics07:20 Road Rage As A Case Study08:34 Values Triggers And Fairness10:03 Concert Incident And Boundaries14:37 Dad Accident And Rage Texts16:40 Responding Means Creating Space17:32 Dad Recovery Update18:11 Letting Him Choose Home19:29 Aging Parents Anxiety21:06 Creating Space Techniques22:10 Mindfulness Five Senses23:05 911 Versus Responders24:33 Family Drama Text Urge26:22 Type It Send Yourself29:18 Why Last Word Feels Good30:59 Resolution Over Winning31:22 Observe This Week31:53 Episode 100 Callouts