The other day, I was simply grocery shopping, going about my own business, when a man passed by me.
He was wearing cologne.
The same cologne my father used to wear.
In an instant, I wasn’t a grown woman anymore.
I was that little girl again.
The one who was molested.
The one who didn’t feel safe.
The one who froze.
My body reacted before my mind could even process what was happening.
Tears welled up. My breath caught. The pain of the past slammed into the present.
But then I caught myself.
I paused… and I did the STOP technique.
I grounded myself in the now.
I reminded myself:
I am safe. I am no longer that little girl. I am a powerful, healed woman.
Even after all the healing work I’ve done, years of therapy, coaching, emotional release, forgiveness, Neuroencoding, and more, triggers still happen.
Because healing isn’t about pretending the past never happened.
It’s about what we do when it resurfaces.
I share this because if you’ve ever been triggered and wondered, “Why am I feeling this again?” – please know, you are not broken.
You’re human.
And you’re healing.
💬 Have you had a moment like this where a scent, sound, or situation brought your past rushing in?
I’d love to hold space for your story if you feel safe to share it.
✨ And if you’re ready to learn how to respond instead of react when you’re triggered… message me. I can help.
You don’t have to walk this path alone anymore.