Hello!
It occurred to me that some of the people who began following my blog after my post about the importance of allowing yourself to accept help from others during trying times ( https://embersrevitalized.com/2021/05/29/accepting-help/ ) might be waiting for me to post something about my son’s biopsy results! I am beyond grateful to report that, after a painful TWELVE DAYS, I finally received them & his mass was benign! WHEW!
So… if it was good news, why did I go MIA for the past 3 weeks?
As I acknowledged in my last post, the possibility of my son having cancer tapped into the PTSD that I had developed from watching his brother go through the process of having brain surgery. Trauma experts will tell you that trauma is stored in the body, and I have felt this. Even after the threat has passed, hypervigilance can stick around for awhile while your body attempts to catch up to the reassurances that it is receiving from your brain. Sometimes, you can be begging your body to calm down and it just stays stuck in “fight” mode. And, because I have *been there, felt that* before, I knew that I needed to soothe my body and take some time to really focus on healing in order to bring it back down to baseline.
As I’m sure many of you know, once your body finally comes back down from being in a prolonged “fight” mode, there is an intense exhaustion like no other as it attempts to begin the recovery process.
In light of this, I thought it might be helpful to share with you some of my favorite self-care strategies when my poor body really just needs some TLC:
- Sitting next to the lake. I prefer Lake Superior, but really, any small lake or river will do. There is something about water that is naturally calming and healing.
- Going on a hike. I really struggle with the concept of exercise when I am feeling exhausted, and I have found that giving myself pretty things to look at while I’m exercising makes it much more tolerable. Hiking is also a great way to get proprioceptive input, which really helps to calm the nervous system and release stress chemicals.
- Reading. Distraction can be a great coping tool, as long as you don’t unpack and permanently live there. Getting lost in a good book can provide a break from any unhelpful thoughts and get you out of your head for awhile.
- Swinging. Ever wonder why Grandma’s big ol’ porch swing was such a relaxing place to be? Swinging also provides input to your nervous system that helps to calm and organize. My porch swing is my favorite spot to read when I’m at home.
- Sunshine! Warmness, bright light, and Vitamin D all rolled into one! I find the sun to be very energizing.
- Coffee dates. I met my friend at the beach with a thermos of coffee and allowed myself to just be. It can be tempting to self-isolate when you are feeling like this, and feeling lonely can make you feel worse. Peer support can really take a lot of weight off of your shoulders!
- Self-expression. For me, it’s usually in the form of writing. Whether it be sharing something on Facebook, writing a blog post, texting a friend, or journaling, the common denominator is that it is an outlet for some of that heavy pent up energy. It’s a release. It can feel so burdensome to carry that around all of the time. For some people, it’s art. Or music. Or theater. Or building. Or cooking. The way that you choose to express yourself is as unique as the nose on your face. The idea is simply to find something that works for you as a sort of steam release valve – you don’t want to turn your body into a little volcano by constantly shoving everything down and building up toxic amounts of pressure. Find a way to let it out.
- Laughter. Play with children, watch a comedy, call your funny friend, listen to your favorite comedian. Laughter really is the best medicine sometimes.
- Have strong and healthy boundaries. Now is not the time to add more to your plate.
- Eat nutritious food (that you enjoy eating). For example, I will sometimes avoid purchasing things like berries or bell peppers due to their cost. Allowing myself to indulge in these things feels good while still being healthy for me.
- Make plans for the future. It doesn’t have to be anything earth-shattering. It could be a camping trip. Brunch with a friend. A painting class. A birthday dinner. Looking forward to something can raise endorphins by 27%!
What are some of your favorite self-care strategies?
Sending love! Be well.
❤ Rachel
Embers Revitalized, LLC 