Managing External Anxiety
AS WE ARE BOMBARDED WITH THE NEWS OF WHAT IS HAPPENING IN THE UKRAINE, OUR NERVOUS SYSTEM CRANKS UP. WE AS A PEOPLE HAVE JUST ENDURED 2 YEARS OF QUARANTINES, LOCKDOWNS AND A GREAT DEAL OF LOSS OF LOVED ONES. THE TRAUMA OF THE RONA VIRUS HAS WORE OUT OUR NERVOUS SYSTEMS. WE GARNERED UP HOPE AS IT APPEARS THE VIRUS IS WINDING DOWN AND LESS PEOPLE ARE DYING FROM THE VIRUS. THEN WE TURN ON THE NEWS THIS WEEK AND SEE RUSSIA INVADING THE UKRAINE, CHILDREN BEING DISPLACED AND FOLKS HIDING IN SUBWAY STATIONS TO REMAIN SAFE. ALL OF US ARE IN SHOCK AS WE VIEW THESE IMAGES OF BOMBS GOING OFF, FIGHTING AND TURMOIL. WE ARE ASKING, “WHY? WHAT? WHO? IS OUR SAFETY AT RISK? WHAT DOES THIS MEAN? HOW CAN I HELP? WHAT IS HAPPENING AGAIN? WHY IS THIS HAPPENING?”
MANAGING OUR INTERNAL EXPERIENCES, MEANING OUR EMOTIONS, BODILY REACTIONS ABOUT THIS EXTERNAL CRISIS, CAN FEEL LIKE BEING RAN OVER BY A SEMI. FEELING LIKE THE WORLD IS OUT OF CONTROL TRIGGERS OUR FIGHT OR FLIGHT MECHANISM RELEASING CORTISOL. AND CORTISOL DECREASES OUR ABILITY TO FEEL EMOTIONS OF CONTENT, HAPPY AND CALM. FOR OUR OWN MENTAL HEALTH IT IS IMPORTANT TO ENGAGE IN BEHAVIORS AND ACTIVITIES THAT WILL SOOTH OUR LIMBIC SYSTEMS RIGHT NOW.
WAYS OF MANAGING YOUR RESPONSE TO EXTERNAL STIMULI
BREATH
PRAY OR MEDITATE
GIVE TO A CHARITY YOU FEEL CONFIDENT IN OR DONATE SOME TIME TO HELP OTHERS (GIVES YOU A SENSE OF BELONGING) (RELEASES SEROTONIN)
FOCUS ON IMPROVING SELF THINGS YOU HAVE CONTROL OVER (DIET EXERCISE, IMPROVING YOUR RELATIONSHIPS)
CLEAN YOUR OWN SPACE
