What to Do When You're Triggered: 25 Tips From an EMDR Therapist

We all get triggered. Literally everyone. We find ourselves reacting strongly to something, and it makes us super-anxious, angry, or overwhelmed. I’m sure you know the feeling… your heart starts racing, you can’t think of anything else… it’s like tunnel vision. So what can you do to quickly recover, so it doesn’t wreck your day? It’s a question that comes up so often in EMDR therapy. In this post are 25 easy, practical methods for you to use right away. And better yet, they’re science-based and brain-based. Have at it!

mindfulness, traumaAndrew KushnickMarch 25, 2024anxiety, brain, compassion, EMDR, window of tolerance, self-help, neuroscience, stress

Profiles in Tech, Part V: The Dev Whisperer

For our fifth installment of “Profiles in Tech,” we meet Ana, a product manager at a mobile app. We hear what it’s like to address a slew of user concerns, dealing with the ever-present pressure to fix everything, like now, like right away. We learn about her awesome ability to pick up on how her developers are feeling, especially the quieter voices. As a reminder, this blog series highlighting the unique mindset of those who work in tech… their outlook, their concerns, and their quest for fulfillment. Each post derives from an interview with an engineer, programmer, or developer in the San Francisco Bay Area, and begins with their story, followed by a few reflections from a mental health perspective.

techiesAndrew KushnickDecember 21, 2023attunement, burnout, communication, technology

In a Time of Layoffs, Solutions from a Therapist for Tech

From front-end to back-end, from C-level to entry-level programmers, tech workers are worried. And understandably so. Layoffs are still happening, and it’s leading to anxiety, along with longer hours, concerns about whether to look for a new job, and burnout. I recently appeared on a podcast called “The Mental Balance,” in which I offered solutions on how to cope, whether all of this constitutes trauma, and common mental health concerns in the tech world.

techies, traumaAndrew KushnickJune 22, 2023anxiety, brain, EMDR, mindfulness, technology, self-help, trauma, neuroscience, stress

“Isn’t It Ironic?” Overcome Ironic Processes to Focus, Improve Sleep, and Heal Trauma.

We all have thoughts that trouble us. Rehashing conversations we’ve had. Feeling badly about ourselves. Worrying about things. The more we try to not think those thoughts, have those emotions, etc., the more they keep coming back. Especially when we’ve been through painful stuff. It’s called “ironic processes of the mind.” The good news: there are ways to overcome this.

mindfulness, traumaAndrew KushnickDecember 14, 2022anxiety, brain, change, depression, EMDR, mindfulness, self-help, self-critic, neuroscience, trauma