I was asked to facilitate a wellness discussion the other night for a group I belong to, and I wanted to share one of the questions that came up.
I’m paraphrasing but essentially, it was ‘when’s it time to get help (i.e. doctor, therapy, etc.) versus trying things on your own?”
The person asking the question also wondered out loud if they needed help because they somehow couldn’t manage on their own, like this was a deficit of some sort.
I so appreciated the question and loved people’s responses as well… if you’re feeling like what you’re going through is really affecting the quality of your life.. your health, how you show up in relationships, and of course your daily mood, then it might be time to find some support.
Or if you feel better after you take a little time for yourself, decompress, and put a few routines into place, then perhaps it seems manageable and you can keep doing what you’re doing.
I added to the conversation by suggesting that if you’re asking the question, perhaps that’s an indicator this might be bigger than you…
Not to say that it is, but living in a society where you’re made to feel like something is wrong with you if you can’t handle things on your own, it can take a lot to even wonder if you should get help.
I’ve shared this analogy before and I’ll share it again.. I have no idea why (as a society) we are made to feel inadequate or ashamed when we’re overwhelmed with anxiety and need to talk to someone, but it’s totally acceptable and encouraged to take your car to the mechanic to figure out what a weird clunking noise is.
What if your anxiety that’s causing you to overthink, avoid hard conversations, and affecting your sleep is like that weird clunking noise that needs some professional guidance and support?
I think, particularly, in these incredibly stressful times, support is key. In my last podcast episode, I talked about all the ways I try my best to stay grounded and clear. Some of those practices are things I do on my own and for some, I go to a practitioner because I really believe we heal in relationships and professional experience and expertise matters.
I also think it’s hard to find someone you trust and feel safe and comfortable working with, especially when you’re bringing heavier things to the table, like the early trauma that feels like it’s sitting in your body. And, you’re noticing it still pops up when you’re triggered by the same things over and over again, feel like you can’t say what you really think, or you’re losing sleep.
If you’re here, I’m guessing you’re someone who’s been on a personal development journey for a while… you’re smart, conscious, and want to learn more about yourself.
You also may be someone that gets stuck in your head and has a harder time knowing fully what you’re feeling or your feelings take over and you notice it as anxiety in your body.
It can show up as a short fuse, second guessing your choices, not being able to hold boundaries to keep the peace, and just generally taking on more than what’s yours, and feeling the weight of it.
As much as I hate to say it, your brain can not figure everything out by itself and that’s when your next step to healing may look a bit different.
Enter body-based healing practices… it’s what I gravitated towards over 20 years ago, and I have found that tuning into our bodies and working with the nervous system can help release the deeper layers of old (traumatic) experiences we may be holding onto as a way of protecting ourselves.
If this is something you are interested in, I’d love to connect.
I know how hard it can be to find the right practitioner and modality when you’re searching for something and you’re wondering what would actually work.
It’s why I’m offering a limited number of free calls so you can experience a body-based approach to healing… it’s one step closer to finding the right fit support without feeling the pressure of it having to ‘work’ right in the moment.
I can not wait to meet you and see if we’re a good fit to work together!
