Psychotherapy

Day 4558: Triggers

Here are the lyrics of my original song “Triggers.”

For me it’s the cold and the dark.

For him it’s not finding a safe place to park.

For some it’s a loud noise.

For others it’s rude boys.

For many it’s news of attacks by a shark.

Everybody’s got a trigger.

Most of us have more than one.

Some are small and some are bigger.

None of them are ever fun.

Triggers are remnants of memories traumatic.

Reactions to triggers can seem over dramatic.

Triggers can haunt you, but don’t let them daunt you.

Because there are ways to make them less automatic.

Everybody’s got a trigger.

Most of us have more than one.

Some are small and some are bigger.

None of them are ever fun.

Therapy treats people’s triggers.

Research has proven some facts and some figures.

Certain movement of eyes, much to people’s surprise,

Make reactions to triggers smaller in size.

Everybody’s got a trigger.

Most of us have more than one.

Some are small and some are bigger.

None of them are ever fun.

People get triggered, that’s known.

I’ve gotten triggered each time that I’ve flown.

If I’ve triggered you here

My apologies, dear,

I hope that it helps to know you’re not alone.

Everybody’s got trigger.

Me and you and you and you.

Some are small and some are bigger.

Now my Triggers song is through.

©️ Ann Koplow, 2018

.

Here is a live performance of my Triggers song:

.

My triggers include the cold, the dark, being rejected, making mistakes, forgetting the words while I’m performing, cruelty, and awful people in positions of power over me.

Do you see triggers in my other images for today?

.

What are your thoughts and feelings about this triggers post?

Thanks to all who help me deal with daily triggers, including YOU.

Categories: original song, personal growth, photojournalism, Psychotherapy | Tags: , , , , , , , | 9 Comments

Day 4553: Glitches

As I’m writing this blog post, I’m encountering glitches.

As I’m uploading my original songs to various platforms, I’m running into glitches.

When I tried to conduct an individual therapy session online yesterday, we ran into glitches.

Here’s a glitch-y definition:

.

There are so many glitches, everywhere!

After we resolved the technical glitches in that remote therapy session yesterday, we talked about the stages of grief. I shared my thoughts about a different stage of grief that I’d like to add to the already documented stages of Shock/Disbelief, Denial, Anger, Bargaining, Guilt, Depression, and Acceptance. The undocumented stage I’ve noticed is Hyper-Awareness of Mortality, which I see in my clients and in myself. I would try to add that grief stage to the literature but I anticipate glitches if I try to do so.

Do you see any glitches in my other images for today?

.

Like the Daily Bitch, I sometimes deal with glitches by inviting someone to help me with it.

I’m encountering many glitches as I try to upload my original songs on sharing platforms, which can be triggers for me.

.

What are your thoughts and feelings about glitches?

Thanks to all who help me deal with life’s glitches, including YOU!

Categories: original song, personal growth, photojournalism, Psychotherapy | Tags: , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

Day 4552: Accepting all feelings

For various reasons, many people have trouble accepting all feelings.

You can tell that someone isn’t accepting all feelings when they use the word “should” about feelings, as in “I know I shouldn’t be feeling this way” or “I should be happier.” To invite accepting all feelings, I often say, “There are no shoulds regarding feelings. They’re like the weather, so just let them come and go.”

This morning, I’m accepting all feelings, including hope, disappointment, confusion, curiosity, dread, relief, and love.

Can you see accepting all feelings in my images for today?

.

Here’s what I find when I search for “accepting all feelings” on YouTube:

.

I hope you are accepting all feelings, including my gratitude for YOU!

Categories: personal growth, photojournalism, Psychotherapy | Tags: , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

Day 4549: Helpful phrases

In therapy, I often encourage people to write helpful phrases on post-it notes that they can easily see.

Yesterday, on my walk, I saw several helpful phrases.

.

Yesterday, I also added helpful phrases (I hope!) to my latest song “What’s Wrong With Looking Older?” to complete the lyrics.

©️ Ann Koplow, 2025

.

Any helpful phrases about the rest of my images for today?

.

I wonder if people will find helpful phrases in my song “Catastrophizing,” which I’ll be sharing at an Open Mic tonight.

.

I’m looking forward to helpful phrases in the comments section, below.

Here’s a helpful phrase to end this post:

Categories: original song, personal growth, photojournalism, Psychotherapy | Tags: , , , , , , , | 8 Comments

Day 4503: Steps

In my therapy sessions, we talk about achievable next steps. It’s often helpful when people think of these next steps as baby steps, especially when they are changing old patterns and habits.

Yesterday, when I was taking many steps in my neighborhood, I saw this:

.

What steps do you see in my other images for today?

.

I’m not finished yet. Here’s another one of my favorite jazz tunes: “Giant Steps” by John Coltrane.

.

What steps are you taking these day?

Thanks to all who help me complete the steps for creating this daily blog, including YOU!

Categories: personal growth, photojournalism, Psychotherapy | Tags: , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

Day 4481: Relationships

Yesterday, in my therapy group, people talked about relationships. Some people were exploring new relationships, others were hoping for different relationships, and somebody spoke about their relationship with themselves, realizing they could be their own soulmate.

I have always been fascinated by relationships. Maybe that’s why I became a therapist. Maybe that’s why I watched only relationship movies like When Harry Met Sally… on the airplane to and from Italy. Maybe that’s why I’m still friends with people I’ve had important relationships with.

Last night, I asked a question about relationships on social media:

.

I’m so grateful for all my relationships — In Real Life and elsewhere.

What relationships do you see in my other images for today?

.

Speaking of therapy, here’s something I found on YouTube when I searched for relationships:

.

Thanks to all those who help me understand relationships, including YOU!

Categories: personal growth, photojournalism, Psychotherapy | Tags: , , , , , , , , , | 10 Comments

Day 4354: Self care

During challenging times, self care is especially important.

On the door of my office at the hospital, I display this reminder about self care:

.

I wonder if anybody finds that helpful.

Do you see self care in my other images for today?

.

Here’s what I find when I search for self care on YouTube:

.

Thanks to all who help me practice self care, including YOU!

Categories: life in the USA, personal growth, photojournalism, Psychotherapy | Tags: , , , , , , , , | 12 Comments

Day 4218: Priorities

Last week in therapy, somebody expressed profound sadness about never being anybody else’s first priority.

Because one of my priorities is my work, I listened, validated her feelings, pointed out how we can’t control what other people do or feel, and asked if she were her own first priority. Then we discussed how she could prioritize herself better.

What priorities do you see in my images for today?

.

Living in the present is definitely one of my priorities.

Here’s what I find when I search for “priorities” on YouTube:

.

One of my priorities is music, so I’ll also share “Priorities” by Tyla:

.

Another one of my priorities is expressing gratitude, so thanks to all who are here for this Priorities Post, including YOU!

Categories: personal growth, photojournalism, Psychotherapy | Tags: , , , , , , , , , | 15 Comments

Day 4211: New Conversations

On New Conversations Day, which was yesterday, I had conversations with people about doing something new: staying off of others’ emotional roller coasters.

In these new conversations, I suggested to my empathic patients that instead of going along for the ride in the car with somebody else’s ups and downs, that instead they visualize standing on the ground beside that roller coaster with their feet on the ground while keeping track of the other person’s ride. That way, they could be present with the other person while also taking care of themselves. I also recommended this grounded technique for experiencing the constant up-and-down roller coaster of the news.

Do you see other new conversations in today’s blog post?

.

Maybe I’ll have some new conversations about baldness, barbershop music, and beans n’ franks today.

When I search for “new conversations” on YouTube, I am very happy to find that album by one of my favorite jazz pianists:

.

I look forward to new conversations in the comments section below.

Thanks to all who are open to new conversations, including YOU!

Categories: personal growth, photojournalism, Psychotherapy | Tags: , , , , , , , , , | 13 Comments

Day 4183: Resentment

There’s going to be a lot of resentment in today’s blog, and I feel no need to apologize about that.

.

I can always depend on the Daily Bitch for some juicy resentment.

My singing teacher Shereé Marcelle has a much better voice than I do, but I have no resentment about that. Today, I’ll be seeing her perform as a mother with bipolar disorder (and maybe some resentment) in the musical Next to Normal.

I’m trying not to look for resentment these days, but I’ll look for it now on YouTube.

.

Resentment is just another human feeling that we need to recognize, acknowledge, and allow to flow through us. If we squelch, deny, or judge our resentment (like we might squelch other uncomfortable feelings), it will stay around longer.

Thanks to all who are here for this resentment post, including YOU!

Categories: personal growth, photojournalism, Psychotherapy | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , | 12 Comments

Powered by WordPress.com.