Reacting VS Responding…
It is appropriate to have gratitude for the way your fight/flight/freeze response 🧠 has helped you to survive life’s experiences that has threatened your safety. Trauma occurs not only when an individual’s physical safety has been threatened, but also when emotional, mental, and spiritual safety is threatened 🚨. Having past experiences of feeling unsafe can impact an individual’s ability to feel safe in seemingly “normal” environments. For example, a person who has a history of feeling physically and/or emotionally unsafe with people, may go into survival-mode “simply” from walking into a room filled with people😰. If this is you, you are NOT inadequate. You may give yourself some grace for all you’ve survived. You have become accustomed to surviving & this takes strength. However, your strength may be drained at times due to the physiological work that goes into your Central Nervous System being in a constant state-of-alert🚨. If you find that you are now in an emotionally safe place, you may want to work on teaching your body you are now safe (woosah body, woosah).
You can help your body learn Calmness by practicing to utilize your Frontal Lobe more often, so that you may be able to breath deeper, rest sufficiently, embrace joy, improve your focus & memory, increase your ability to manage your emotions.... and many more experiences you are deserving of! You are capable of creating increased pleasant experiences by practicing Mindfulness.
🧘🏽♀️ 🔅🧘🏼♂️🔅🧘🏻🔅 🧘🏿♂️🔅🧘🏼♀️🔅
~~For increased awareness you may ask yourself, “Do I struggle with being completely present (in the moment)? Am I often in a state of uneasiness & high-alert? How does it make me feel when I do not feel in control of my anxiety? If I were able to feel calmer in most of my daily encounters, how might this change me & my life?”
Can you relate?
You are not alone. Share with us your thoughts/feelings/experiences with #alertness #mindfulness #anxiety #beingpresent #coreview #mytruth #myexperience #honorme #mentalhealth #mentallystrong #mindfulnessmarch #emotionalhealth #physicalhealth #selflove #healing in the comments below.
*The information and resources contained on this website are for informational purposes only and are not intended to assess, diagnose, or treat any medical and/or mental health disease or condition. The use of this website does not imply nor establish any type of therapist-client relationship. Furthermore, the information obtained from this site should not be considered a substitute for a thorough medical and/or mental health evaluation by an appropriately credentialed and licensed professional.
Written by Iesha Richards - owner and therapist with Core Counseling, based out of Louisville, KY
Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor -Kentucky & Washington D.C.
Licensed Mental Health Counselor -Florida & Hawaii
Certified Master Addictions Counselor -National Board of Certified Counselors
Employee Assistance Professional -The Employee Assistance Certification Commission
