Our hearts have been heavy- and the heaviness just seems to keep compounding. Here are the things we are doing as a trauma therapist and IFS coach to stay well in these times, so as people with a great deal of privilege we can keep showing up for our community and our world.
Coping With Trauma
Move your body
(That can be jumping up and down and screaming. It can be going for a walk. If you have mobility issues, it can be progressive muscle relaxation). For us this weekend it was taking walks in the snow, and dancing it out in our living room. It doesn’t have to be fancy, you just need to release the trauma your body is holding.
When you feel helpless, help
Call your representatives. March. Donate. Tom calls our representatives every single day. And we’ve seen some pretty amazing changes here in our county! Keep showing up consistently…it makes a difference.
Take intentional breaks
Phone on airplane mode for designated hours/days so you don’t automatically get sucked back in. Intentionally step away so you can intentionally step back in. We have a day every week where we step away for 24 hours, and it has done wonders for our mental health.
On a recent daily coping walk for our mental health
Talk to your parts
The way this is showing up in the nervous system of trauma survivors is overwhelming. It’s bringing up all the old trauma too. Make sure your parts know they are safe enough right now (if that’s true) and that grown up you is here to care for them. Then keep caring for them in the ways listed above and any ways specific to you & your parts.
If you need help doing that, that’s normal. A parts work therapist or coach can help ❤️ Holding space for this kind of anger and grief is one of Tom’s specialties. Schedule with him here: https://thomasoreilly.com/
Stay human.
Your rage and grief and helplessness are all signs that you are alive. Don’t try and turn them off. Tell your parts, “I’m proud of you for feeling.”
But it’s important to pendulate the feelings too. That’s a word we use in EMDR for moving back & forth between the trauma and grounding. In intensive therapy it’s even more important because we are with the trauma all day every day for multiple days. You can use that skill here too:
Feel it and then comfort yourself. Feel it and then shake it out. Feel it and then get support. Feel it and then make art. This is how we stay connected for the long haul. Set a timer if you have to. But feel it AND release it, on repeat 🫶🏻
Don’t forget- Charity’s online course is always there to help you learn more ways to befriend and heal your nervous system. You can find it at https://www.teawithatraumatherapist.com/
