11/23/2025
SUNDAY SKILL ... Finding your way back to calm - 💧 When You Start to Shut Down — Understanding the “Dorsal” State 💧
Sometimes when life feels too heavy, our bodies protect us by slowing everything down. We might feel tired, disconnected, or like we just want to hide from the world. This is called the dorsal state — it’s our nervous system’s way of saying, “I need to pause and survive.”
Here’s how you can get to know this state better:
🫀 Body: Notice what your body feels like when your energy drops — maybe heavy, numb, or drained.
🧠 Mind: Pay attention to your thoughts. Do you feel hopeless, distant, or disconnected from others?
🤲 Behavior: Notice what you want to do (or not do). Maybe you pull away, cancel plans, or feel frozen.
This isn’t weakness — it’s your body’s built-in survival system. By learning to recognize it, you can meet yourself with more understanding instead of judgment. 💙
✨ Tip: Start to notice when you feel this way and what tends to trigger it. The more you understand your patterns, the easier it becomes to gently bring yourself back to connection.