It is difficult for healing to occur when we are in hypo or hyper arousal. We need to be within our ‘window of tolerance’ where the prefrontal cortex is switched on, and our cognition is online. Different self-regulation tools can …
Tag: healing journey
How to Reduce Hyperarousal
Hyperarousal is when excessive energy is expressed as anxiety, panic, feeling out of control and wanting to run away. It is challenging to relax when this happens as our body has gone into fight or flight mode. It is difficult …
Indications of Hyperarousal
As we move through life, most of the time, we are within a safe range of arousal, which means a state where we can function well as human beings. We can self-regulate, feel grounded and present, and the reasoning part …
Breaking Self-Betrayal Habits
Little self-betrayals become a habit. It is in the little moments where our natural reaction is to say yes, when the right answer for us is no. Self-betrayals happen when we don’t take the time and care required to check …
Self-Betrayal: Putting Others First
When we grow up with abusive or neglectful parents, we quickly learn to ignore our own needs. Maybe it is dangerous to express our needs, or when we do, they are ignored. The result is a deep disconnect from our …
Familial Guilt and Aligning with Our Values
This is one I come back to again and again. Whenever I am feeling guilty, I ask myself, am I out of alignment with my values? If yes, I realign with them. If not, I stop the guilt. Love, Jen
Mental Illness: Adapting to Unhealthy Situations
Knowing that mental illness results from normal adaptations to unhealthy situations became clear to me when I read “The Boy Who Was Raised as a Dog” by Dr Bruce Perry. Trigger warning for this book – it does contain harrowing …
Examples of Triggers
Remember that triggers are NORMAL. It is about learning to recognise your personal triggers and work with them. This list is a great starting place for you to think about your triggers. If you’d like to, try the exercise below. …
Understanding Triggers
Imagine if your father was a large man and a violent drunk. It might be that whenever you see a man in the street with a similar figure and gait, your body freezes, and you start to panic. A trigger …
Signs of Healing
When I began my healing journey, I was experiencing deep inner conflict. I had immigrated to a new country and had few support people in my new home. Most of my friends and family were literally on the other side …