31/03/2024
Do you know how the Caimbridge dictionary defines overwhelm?
Defeat using a lot of force.
That really struck me when I heard it.
Traumatic events can cause long-term activation of your nervous system, keeping you in a state of fight, flight or freeze. You might stay in that up-regulated state semi-permanently or even permanently, as your Body-Mind system holds onto the trauma.
Being in a survival state (fight, flight or freeze) has been shown to ‘pressurise’ the body –inflammation increases, heart rate rises and hormones are thrown off balance. The body becomes like a pressure-cooker.
These might all be manageable symptoms for a while, maybe even for a long time.
But then what happens when other life stressors are added?
Autoimmune conditions can both result from- and result in - said overwhelm.
Too much force - too much pressure.
Your body not designed for it.
No organism on earth is designed to withstand the effects of long-term stress (including unresolved trauma).
When overwhelm looms, take a moment to come back to with this practice.
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Here's a gentle, somatic approach to manage overwhelm through :
1. Notice the sense of mounting overwhelm, and pause what you’re doing.
2. Take a conscious breath.
3.Notice 5 things you can see that make you feel resourced or safe. Finding items with rounded edges or in ‘cool’ colours (blue, green, purple etc), even better.
4. Then, notice 3 things you can hear, that also make you feel a sense of safety Finding sounds that come from natural sources are more likely to produce a sense of safety & wellbeing for the nervous system.
5. Finally, notice 2 things that you can feel ~ eg notice the feeling of the solidity of the chair, notice the ground under your feet, or the temperature of the air on your skin.
If you are looking to cultivate more resilience to life’s pressures, join me for a weekly FREE space combining intuitive, organic movement and stillness, where we cultivate a safe & loving connection to our body, find genuine nervous system restoration at .
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