Parental Authority vs child autonomy forms a crucial discourse in child development and parenting. It is rooted in nature and nurture. While parental guidance forms a secure foundation in the formative years of development, it is equally important to foster independent decision making and critical thinking.

Parental Authority instills a feeling of safety and protection as children are inherently vulnerable. It also creates a safe space for learning from the life experiences of parents and understanding how to handle critical situations and failure. It inculcates values and social ettiquettes, while also building the moral compass of the individual.

Fostering independence is just as important as it creates a sense of autonomy and builds confidence. It promotes critical thinking, decision-making skills, problem-solving and self-reliance. Allowing children to make mistakes and face failures helps in building resilience.

It can be overwhelming to deal with emotional triggers on our own when we don’t have someone to rely on or find it difficult to open up to others. But here are some strategies to work through by ourselves:

1. Self-awareness: Begin by identifying your triggers and understanding your emotions. This requires some deep work to navigate through your current as well as past situations, patterns, people or phrases that caused the trigger. When triggered, pay attention to the physical sensations and the responding chain of thoughts. Journaling can work as an effective tool to analyize and understand these emotional patterns.
2. Coping mechanisms: Developing healthy coping mechanisms is very important as these triggers affect mental health drastically. Practice grounding techniques such as deep breathing exercises, progressive muscle relaxation and mindfulness meditation. These techniques help in calming the nervous system. Engage in self-soothing activities such as going for a walk, gardening, spending time with people you feel at ease with or having a pet. Be conscious of your negative inner dialogue and counter them with positive self-talk.
3. Creative outlets and communities: Allow yourself to find a release through creative work such as singing, writing, painting, etc. Connect with people of similar interests and let your thoughts flow. This is great way of processing your emotions.
4. Seek professional help: Sometimes it can be too much handle everything on your own and you must seek professional help to work through the underlying problems that are causing these triggers.