What I'm Doing to Self-Soothe
How are you?
Most people I've spoken to are feeling a range of things as COVID-19 continues to pick up steam. The shut downs, the stock-piling, the juggling of work, children, concern for ourselves, our families and friends, our compromised and our at-risk is heavy to sit with.
I want to validate all of the things you're feeling, .
As we navigate the coming weeks it feels important to have some tools readily available to soothe ourselves.
If you're feeling tight with anxiety, I want you to know that your body, your nervous system, is doing its job.
When we feel our safety and security is threatened, our body's natural response is to move to fight or flight mode. Enter worrisome thoughts, irritability, spiraling thoughts and tension throughout our bodies.
We need this anxiety to activate to help protect ourselves from danger. But, when the intensity of it becomes overwhelming, it can be very hard to make grounded decisions, be with what matters most to us, plan ahead and mobilize to act on those plans.
As we muddle through this season of our lives, I hope we can all call on some solid tools to help us acknowledge our instinctual worry and anxiety, but also soothe our nervous systems when we're able.
For all that it's worth, here's what's been working for me:
Flexible structure throughout the day.
Long, LONG, breaks from the news. And social media.
Journaling. Ya'll, I typically suck at journaling. But I do believe in the power of it. And I'm prioritizing it because the word dump, the emotional expression, the containment, it's needed.
Checking in with, talking to and face-timing with my people.
Keeping up with my therapy and supervision appointments.
Grounding myself outside, rain or shine.
Staying in comfy clothes.
Eating regularly and prioritizing satisfaction to the best of my ability.
Finding something to laugh, snicker or smile at. Often. Thank you internet!
Validating the hell out of the realness, the scariness, the uncertainty and the bravery that so many people are demonstrating.
I could tell you the many reasons why I've been prioritizing these things. But, think soothing. Coming back to the present moment through the senses. Finding connection, community, joy and pleasure.
These things can exist, and can be valid, alongside of the uncertainty and fear of the pandemic, if we allow them.
Tell me, what are you doing to take care of yourself these days? And, what do you feel like you need? I want to be here to support this community and respond to your needs to the best of my ability.
Interested in a free virtual group to feel connected, to talk recovery from diet-culture, anxiety management, or just to see some faces who are also feeling all the feels?
How about Instagram or Facebook lives to address questions you might have about healing your relationship with food and body?
Or, maybe something else?
Please send me an email and let me know. I'll do my very best to respond with some offerings.
With you in the muck of this.
🧡,
Sarah