Triggers vs Emotions: What’s the Difference?

Angelica Esposito
Sep 2, 2025
2 min read

Have you ever felt an intense reaction that didn’t quite match what was happening? Maybe someone made a harmless comment and you suddenly felt hurt, angry, or shut down. This is often where emotional triggers come into play.

Knowing the difference between triggers and emotions can help you make sense of your responses and guide you toward healing.

Triggers vs Emotions: What’s the Difference? by Angelica Esposito | EMDR Therapy in Burlington and virtually across Ontario

What Are Emotional Triggers?

Triggers are like emotional echoes from your past. They’re personal, often unconscious, and tied to beliefs formed through difficult experiences.

Common signs of emotional triggers:

Rooted in past trauma or memories
Often tied to deep-seated beliefs like “I’m not good enough” or “I have to stay in control”
May go unnoticed until something activates them
Can cause avoidance, stress, or emotional numbing
Often emerge during tough or transitional times
Can cause physical reactions (tight chest, racing heart, foggy thinking)
Not something to be ashamed of—they’re a normal part of the human experience

Triggers don’t mean something is “wrong” with you. They mean something needs attention.

What Are Emotions?

Emotions are your body and mind’s natural response to what’s happening in the present moment.

Key facts about emotions:

Triggered by what you see, hear, or feel in real time
Easier to recognize (you know when you’re sad, anxious, or joyful)
Serve as important internal signals
Shared across cultures—everyone feels them
Healthier to express than suppress
Come and go like waves

Understanding emotions helps you stay grounded. Letting them flow, instead of pushing them away, builds emotional resilience.

Why It’s Important to Tell the Difference

Recognizing whether you’re experiencing a trigger or an emotion can change how you respond to difficult situations.

Ask yourself:

Is this reaction bigger than the situation?
Have I felt this way before, in a similar way?
What might this feeling be trying to tell me?

These questions aren’t about blame—they’re about self-awareness. When you understand what’s coming from the past vs. what’s happening now, you can respond more intentionally and compassionately.

Therapy Can Help You Work Through Both

At AE Therapy, I offer a safe space to explore your emotional landscape—both the triggers rooted in the past and the emotions showing up in the present.

Using trauma-informed, evidence-based approaches like EMDR, mindfulness, and narrative therapy, I support clients in learning how to: