Episode 34 Back to Basics Coping

I’ve been really mindful about what messages I want to put out about overwhelm and anxiety. Now is not the time for adding more stuff. A distressed brain cannot learn or retain new information well. That’s true for adults and kids.

Instead, work towards meeting basic needs each day with constants. Things that your great, great, great granny would have done. Things that will stay constant so long as the earth turns.

These are some my go to strategies, bringing in the elements:

Earth - I put my bare feet on the ground. I garden. If that’s not possible try a sensory tub with sand, dried beans, salt or anything you can sink your hands into. Maybe you have a shell, pebbles, a feather, a leaf in your apartment somewhere? Make some connection to touching something from the earth each day.

A lot of us will be struggling with unconscious inner child stuff at the moment. Out subconscious taking us back to times when we felt scared and uncertain.
Also consider that some of our reactions are not ours. Trauma is in your DNA from your ancestors. Those genes are being triggered right now. Scarcity, fear, anger. Some if those reactions are from your ancestors. Touching things from the earth will help with feeling alive and present to now.

Fire - drink or eat something warm. Sit with a warm drink that you like and take a full minute or two to notice the warmth in your hands, watch the steam rise

Water - drink, bath/shower or cry

Wind - breath is the one coping constant so long as you are alive. Take one deep breath a day. Preferably more but pair it with something you already do - like every time you touch a door handle, take a deep breath

+ heart (yup a Captain Planet reference for all my 90s peeps) - have gratitude and compassion for yourself for simply getting through the day

Focus on the constants - the sun will rise, and it will set. The wind, water and fire will continue to exist.

The birds and bugs outside don’t know there’s a pandemic, they’re just going about their business. Watch them. If you can’t get outside watch some nature videos.

Keep it so simple and so over achievable that there’s no room for failure.

A glass of water with vitamins
Finding 1 thing to be grateful for
A deep breath

That’s enough

If you want 1:1 support for counselling or coaching, reach out :)

I work with birthing people and birth workers 1:1. You can reach me @doctorerinbowe on instagram or dr.erinbowe@gmail.com

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