"Why did I get so angry?"
Kaito sat looking dejected. Hiyori and Sora watched with concern.
Hiyori asked gently. "What happened?"
"My friend just made a small joke, but I snapped. I apologized later, but it's awkward."
Sora said quietly. "It happens to everyone."
"But it's something I'd normally laugh off. Why couldn't I today?"
Hiyori began explaining. "Overreacting has several factors."
"Factors?"
"First, your psychological state at the time. When tired, stressed, or anxious, emotional reactions become stronger."
Kaito thought. "True, I've been stressed about tests recently."
"Stress lowers the emotional threshold," Sora supplemented. "What you can normally endure becomes unbearable."
Hiyori continued. "Another is triggers."
"Triggers?"
"Stimuli connected to past experiences. They unconsciously cause strong reactions."
Kaito remembered. "My friend's joke reminded me of being bullied before."
"That's a trigger," Hiyori said gently. "Current events revive past pain."
Sora asked. "Can triggers be avoided?"
"Not completely. But by recognizing them, you can control your reactions."
Kaito asked. "How?"
Hiyori explained. "First, know your triggers. What words or situations cause strong reactions."
"After knowing, what do you do?"
"Pause before reacting. Recognize 'this is a trigger.'"
Sora added. "Recognition creates distance from automatic reactions."
Kaito tried. "Think 'I'm just reacting to past pain, this situation is different'?"
"Exactly," Hiyori nodded. "Distinguishing past from present is important."
Sora asked. "But isn't it difficult to stay calm in the moment?"
"It is difficult," Hiyori acknowledged. "That's why practice is needed."
"Practice?"
"Mindfulness, deep breathing, emotion labeling. Techniques you can use when emotions run high."
Kaito showed interest. "Emotion labeling?"
"Naming emotions. Saying in your mind 'I am angry now.'"
"Just that?"
"Naming activates the prefrontal cortex and suppresses amygdala activity," Hiyori explained.
Sora supplemented. "By taking an observing stance toward emotions, you're less likely to be overwhelmed."
Kaito sighed. "But I might not remember in the moment."
"It's difficult at first," Hiyori encouraged. "But it becomes habit through repetition."
Sora suggested. "How about keeping a diary? Record when you overreacted."
"Good idea," Hiyori agreed. "Patterns will emerge."
Kaito thought. "Patterns?"
"What situations cause what emotions. Once you know, you can predict."
Sora said. "If you can predict, you can prepare."
Hiyori continued. "Another important thing is self-care."
"Self-care?"
"Sufficient sleep, exercise, nutrition. Basic things affect emotion regulation ability."
Kaito was surprised. "Even those things are related?"
"Body and mind are closely connected. When tired, the power to control emotions weakens."
Sora wrote in her notebook. "Overreaction is a combination of current stress and past triggers."
"Good summary," Hiyori acknowledged.
Kaito became positive. "So first, know my triggers and practice self-care."
"And pause before reacting," Sora added.
Hiyori smiled. "Even if you can't do it perfectly, that's okay. Gradual improvement is fine."
Kaito said. "Thank you. I feel a bit better."
The three sat quietly. Overreaction isn't weakness, but a sign of mental pain. Understanding it is the first step to healing.
"I'll try talking to my friend properly again," Kaito said.
Hiyori and Sora nodded. Change begins from understanding and self-acceptance.