Oh hey, hello, I’m still here! January has been going different then I thought! Today I want to share some tips on exactly that, when life takes a turn and flips you upside down. My life in January took a crazy turn and here are some things I’ve been needing to remind myself of and work through.
-Life has seasons and our nervous system needs us to remind it of that. It is our job to help show our nervous system time and seasons. Our nervous system does not understand time. Time keeps on moving. Give yourself a couple weeks and something changed. Either you adjusted, got worse, got better, or the stressor moved on. We are constantly in motion. So is our healing, our bodies, our minds, and our lives. Look back to a stressful time you had. Did you stay there? Did you subconsciously feel like you’d stay there when you were in it? (hello nervous system that does not have the correct concept of time) Did you stay the same person? Did you learn something, or grow? Some stressors can take a long time to shift, some days, weeks, months. But we are constantly changing. So, remind yourself how ever many times, this won’t last.
-What is your initial response when facing something challenging? “Oh no how will I ever get through this? It is going to be really bad.” or “What if this is an opportunity? An opportunity for growth, deeper understanding, and drawing closer to God?” Changing our perspective can be hugely beneficial.
-Often those that have experienced lots of dysregulation in the past can find these times extra triggering because they know what it is like to be in that place. Now this season of stress has our nervous systems possibly experiencing more anxiety, more sensations that were from our past. It feels like we have gone backwards. We add a whole level of fear to the situation because of past stories. If we aren’t aware enough, we will subconsciously be in our heads about this season, placing a level of perfection on ourselves. An idea that we shouldn’t be responding this way. An unrealistic idea of coping like a superhuman when trials come. But, let’s not forget, we are human. Experiencing states of survival like fight, flight, or freeze is 100% natural. It is what our nervous systems were made to do, protect us with these states when big stressors come up. So, allow the adjustment period. Allow the struggle for a few days or weeks. Take extra care of yourself while you adjust if you can. If you are an experienced brain retrainer, this is when your tools are your best friend. Those that are not equipped can end up staying stuck in these survival states much longer than what is necessary. With your tools, there will still be messiness, uncomfortable sensations, and imperfections. Allow them. And remember, that time keeps moving. As you do your best, and allow the adjustment to happen, things will get better, I promise.
-Let go of the ideas of performance you have of yourself if you can. Allow. Let things be. And stop getting in the way of yourself. How many times have you gone through something like this, anxiety seems heightened, you can’t sleep at night, you feel the fatigue again. You add even more on by then worrying about the heightened anxiety and old or extra symptoms you now have?
-Take the breaks. Say no if you need while you adjust. Nurture your nervous system with warm drinks, quiet times, a book, and your favorite sweater. Ask for help, talk to a friend, laugh and connect, take a nap. Offer that struggling part of you support during a challenging time. Be ok with messy and slower. This won’t last.
NSR helps equip you with tools for not only rewiring chronic illness but also navigating stressful times, in a healthier way, for the rest of your life.
hp
