The continued current state of the world is bringing stress to so many.
We’re standing at a crossroads where enormous challenges have converged like never before: a pandemic, racial injustice, political upheaval and division. They show up every day, in addition to whatever challenges you’re already experiencing in your life.
We all need to cope. There are so many ways to cope with stress. Some coping mechanisms are healthier than others. Because I care about your health, I want to check in. How are you coping?
- Have you been finding yourself drinking more to get through these difficult days?
- Is the loneliness, boredom or fear requiring you to do something to turn off your brain?
- Do you find yourself using food to help you soothe the anxiety?
Using alcohol, drugs, and self-harm are unhealthy coping mechanisms. Even the use of sex or food – restricting, binging, or purging – can also be unhealthy attempts at managing your emotional dysregulation. They can ease stress or divert attention in the short term. But long-term, they don’t help us build the strengths we need to respond to stress. In fact, they can even weaken our physical health and even cause greater problems in the long run.
Signs your emotional health needs your care and attention
- Are you experiencing feelings that are familiar to your past? Is past trauma being triggered?
- Do you feel out of control? Is it just too overwhelming?
- Is it too hard to be present and feel your feelings right now?
People learn to rely on unhealthy coping mechanisms, because that’s the best choice they see at the time. Using some of these methods can feel better than the feelings or emotions being experienced. It can be hard to sit with and hold emotions that are distressing. Fortunately, you can learn to use healthier, strengthening coping mechanisms instead.
Coping strategies can feel good!
Therapy helps you swap out tools that wear you down, for powerful new ones that keep supporting you throughout your life.
That’s how we help. With therapy, we can help you work to manage your emotions and pain in a way that is less harmful to you. We can help you feel less badly, just as you want! We will help you recognize and notice the pain, learning new ways to do so by expanding your window of tolerance, so that your emotions start to feel tolerable and you stay regulated while feeling them.
Wouldn’t it be nice to no longer feel overwhelmed by your emotions?
This is how you will know you have healthier ways to cope:
- You know that you can live with pain, although difficult, and manage it
- You know how to do this and not feel the need to escape
- You are able to stay present with yourself and others in your life today
You are not alone. And you don’t have to bear this weight alone!
We are here to help.
Please remember that a trauma-informed model of care means we understand:
- That you are already striving to feel better, or at least, feel less badly.
- That you are not your behaviors! Your behaviors make sense given your history and what is currently happening.
- That you are using whatever tools you have in your toolbox.
Know that you can learn new tools, starting right where you are. You are worthy of a healthy and positive life, even in stressful times! You deserve care and support as you try and find your way through this tough existence right now.
We know that for trauma survivors, stress often triggers powerlessness, overwhelm, and feelings of having no control. In these tough times, please remember that you have survived so much in your life already. You have superpowers—and we can help you harness them for a future that feels safer, and in which you can take good care of yourself.
Let’s find a way to help you ask for the help you deserve and get it!
To find out more please contact us here.
