Arrows Counseling Center

11/09/2025

SUNDAY SKILL - Finding your way back to calm ... 🌿 Exploring the “Shut Down” State 🌿

Sometimes when life feels too heavy or we feel stuck with no way out, our body protects us by shutting down. We might feel numb, disconnected, or like all our energy is gone. This is called the dorsal survival state — it’s our nervous system’s way of conserving energy when things feel too overwhelming.

If you’ve ever felt that sense of “I just can’t,” you’ve been there.

Here are a few gentle ways to explore this state safely:
1️⃣ Think of a time when you started to feel yourself pulling away or shutting down.
2️⃣ Notice what that experience looked and felt like — your surroundings, your body, the energy in you.
3️⃣ Get to know the signs of this state, so when it happens again, you recognize what’s going on instead of feeling lost in it.
💛 Remember: this state isn’t bad — it’s your body’s way of protecting you. The more familiar you get with it, the easier it becomes to find your way back to connection and calm.

11/07/2025

11/02/2025

SUNDAY SKILL - Finding your way back to calm ... 💜 In Service of Survival 💜

Sometimes when we feel scared, shut down, or disconnected, it’s actually our body trying to protect us — even if it doesn’t make sense in the moment. Our nervous system remembers past experiences and jumps into action to help us feel safe.

Instead of judging ourselves for how we react, we can start to notice why our body is doing what it’s doing — it’s trying to keep us safe the best way it knows how.
When we see it this way, we can move from self-blame to self-compassion.

Here are a few gentle reflections you can try next time you notice yourself shutting down or feeling distant:
💭 “My body is responding to something that feels unsafe.”
💭 “This part of me is trying to protect me.”
💭 “I’m grateful my body is looking out for me, even if it’s uncomfortable right now.”
Each time you come out of that state, take a moment to think about what your body might have been trying to do for you. Over time, this helps you understand yourself with more kindness and awareness. 🌿

10/31/2025

I'm happy to sponsor this event. This is FREE so sign up, grab your friends and have fun.

Something that’s been on my heart…

I’ve been thinking for a few months now about starting Teen Craft Nights here at the shop. A safe place for boys and girls ages 12 and up to hang out, let some of their stress out through creativity, and just be themselves.

We live in a world that can feel confusing and heavy sometimes, and I want to create a space where kids can come, feel supported, and know it’s okay to laugh, cry, talk, or just take a breather.

At each Teen Craft Night, we’d have snacks, music, and a fun DIY project to work on together. Parents can stay if they’d like, or just drop their teen off and pick them up after. I’m thinking of doing this maybe once a month or every couple of months to start, depending on interest.

I just really feel like now is the right time to get the wheels in motion.
What do you all think — would your teen be interested in something like this? ❤️

10/29/2025

Grace over guilt mama

10/26/2025

SUNDAY SKILL ... finding your way back to calm - TYPES OF DORSAL

What it means
Sometimes when life feels too heavy or overwhelming, our body goes into a kind of “shut down” mode to protect us. This is called the dorsal response — part of the nervous system’s way of saying, “This is too much right now.”

It can start small — like feeling spaced out, disconnected, or like you’re just going through the motions. When it gets stronger, it might feel like you’re lost, invisible, or floating far away from everything.

There are many shades of this response; from mild to deep and each one is your body’s way of keeping you safe when things feel too hard.

Try this
Remember the beginning. Think of a time when you first noticed yourself start to check out or go numb. What did that feel like? What pictures, words, or sensations come to mind?

Then go deeper. Think of a time when you felt totally shut down or disconnected. What did that look or feel like for you?

Explore the space between. Gently move between those two experiences — the light “checking out” and the deeper “shut down.” Notice what happens in the middle. Take your time and notice any images, words, or sensations that arise.

A helpful note
Writing or drawing about what you notice can help you stay grounded while you explore. Dorsal energy can pull you inward, so documenting it helps you observe it safely — like watching a wave instead of getting swept up in it. The more you get to know your “flavors” of dorsal, the more compassion and understanding you can bring to those moments.