95 During these Difficult times, many of us are Worried, Scared, Depressed or Temperamental. Here's a Simple Technique

    All of us have experienced depression and stress during our lifetime; it's normal. However, with the third year of the Corona Virus and its variants, many of us are concerned about stepping out in an attempt to return to somewhat of an everyday life. The feeling of uncertainty still exists, and I worry about catching it again. Stress often times will cause us to overreact and say something mean or inappropriate. Some people will tell you, "Just get over it. Tough it up!" Others will say to you, "Just get over it. Tough it up!"


 "Don't bite my head off!"       

     Many people ignore how they feel, but this isn't healthy, nor does this allow you to process your feelings, which make you feel stuck or moody. This stuckness makes you unable to move forward in your life. Either you can't create, have difficulty focusing, or walk around angry. Your brain wants its life back. Your body wants to stop reacting, and your soul wants you to live its life to the fullest. 

Depression or trauma might feel like::

* Blaming yourself for what happened

* Difficulty concentrating

* Losing your temper easily

* Overwhelming thoughts/possibly obsessive

* Shallow breathing where you almost pass out

* Hyperventilate

* Fearful of the future

* Feeling alone

* Anxious or depressed when memories of the traumatic event

*Sometimes, you  feel as if you're standing behind glass blocks, your vision is affected, and you feel like you are not in your body 

     After our daughter left to live her own life,  refusing to talk to us, and then a year later, our son died of a heroin overdose, I was stuck in trauma the majority of the day. It almost took over my life. My trauma therapists helped me reclaim my life, healing not only from the trauma as a parent but also from the many traumas I confronted while growing up.

Here's a quick fix I learned from my therapist that you can use when you feel upset, angry, or detached, not living in the present:  GREAT TECHNIQUE TO TEACH TO KIDS.

  1. Rub the material on your right side; maybe it's a skirt or a pair of pants. Notice the texture.

  2. Then, with the left hand, rub something which has a totally different texture than what the right hand is rubbing. 

  3.   Rub with the right hand, then rub with the left, switching back and forth. Whatever negative issues pop up in your head, say them out loud. Keep stroking, switching back and forth.                     Allow the tears or anger to be released. Recognize that you are safe and that you can take 

         care of yourself. I validate the way I feel by saying it out loud. "I am safe. I now know how to 

         say, 'No.' I'm not that helpless little girl anymore, etc.;" You'll know when you are done. It 

         might take a few times to unlock the emotions from your body because you've been so tricky

         in hiding them.

  4.   If any other emotions pop up follow the same release guidelines. 

This technique releases the emotions from the right brain and transfers them to the left brain, which is the logical side.   Be open to letting go.

Blog #4 also discusses other techniques to release trauma/depression. 

http://othersideofloss.blogspot.com/2017/12/4-depressed-kick-your-butt-immediately.html