We can often be unaware of the impact a crushing situation is having on our health. When we are going through a stressful situation, we attempt to glide through the day disguising our emotions with a stiff upper lip as the pain and desperation accumulates inside. As humans we are naturally conditioned to keep our emotions stuffed down for fear of being an inconvenience or judged in times of weakness. However the damage it creates can take years to recalibrate.
Sadly repressed emotion is customary in modern day life. Compared to our ancestors we are faced with a huge turnover of information on a daily basis, but when something throws us into disarray we can’t just bust out a tantrum or run away. Instead we swallow our words, push our feelings down and it’s “business as usual” but what happens to all that adrenaline?
Imagine emotion as energy moving through the body, up and out. If you were to fill a bucket with water and keep the tap on, the water would spill over the side. But if the water was suppressed with a tight lid, it would eventually build up and the bucket would burst. In times of high stress or terrible tragedies we literally burst and have an emotional breakdown.
If emotions are not released, the build up can extend to a secondary problem such as anxiety, depression and physical symptoms such as back ache or illness.
The mind has a lot to do on a daily basis so when we are faced with shocking situations it can be extremely tough on both our mind and physiology. The job of the brain is to process information as fast as it can, but when exposed to trauma or stress the mountainous load of sensory information can be hard for the mind to break down. Imagine an email full of attachments that are too big to send. The email gets stuck and doesn’t go anywhere. This is very similar when the mind tries to process stressful experiences. Unprocessed trauma can result in memory loss, panic attacks, nightmares and PTSD (post traumatic stress disorder). In addition a build up of unprocessed emotion can result in incessant crying, tingling in the body, cramp, addictive behaviour to name but a few. (If you have any of these symptoms and have not yet sought professional help, I highly recommend you see your Doctor).
In the meantime whilst the rest of the world prepare to open up and express their feelings and emotions, you can fast track and get going on some of your own self nurturing which will gently ease you back into a sense of equilibrium.
Here are 5 nurturing tips that will assist you in your natural healing journey during stressful and upsetting times:
1. Get as much sleep as your body can take
During sleep our eyes go into REM (rapid eye movement) which is our natural processing machine. It is during this time the mind files off all the memories and experiences you’ve had during the day, week or month which is critical to your wellbeing. Disrupted sleep can affect this natural process routine so make up for it by getting an early night the next day. Avoid alcohol before bed to ensure you get as much natural sleep as possible.
2. Use the butterfly when you feel anxious or scared
Cross your arms as though you are giving yourself a hug and tap intermittently on your shoulders. This will bring your right and left brain hemispheres back into harmony and alleviate your symptoms.
3. Express your feelings more often
Write, paint, draw, talk. Whichever way you like to express yourself, do more of it. This will help you to release emotion and inner self-talk. Even better if you have someone you trust who you can talk to.
4. Seek the support of a professional.
Sometimes we like to deal with things in our own way but if you have been through a stress or trauma you may find your own DIY stuff is not enough. Counselling is good for talking through and acknowledging your feelings. For cognitive change I recommend EMDR, NLP and Wingwave®.
5. Look after your nutrition and health
When we are stressed we can often forget to eat or seek out stimulants such as alcohol to numb the pain, as a result our health takes a backward turn. Gifting your body good nutrition is paramount to self-healing. In order for the body and mind to heal, it needs to be given the right fuel. You couldn’t drive a car with an empty tank and the same goes for the human body. In fact poor nutrition can bring on further side-effects which is counter-productive to your natural healing process. The mind, organs, brain, muscles all need food. If you can’t face the thought of chewing, go for a nutritionally packed smoothie that can be sipped intermittently.
Remember healing takes time, so go easy on yourself. Your mind and body is always trying to do the best it knows how. <3