Want to feel better?

It was just a few weeks ago that I shared some ideas with you to address the difficult emotions many of us were feeling in response to the school shooting in Texas. 

And here we are again. 

The Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade has triggered intense emotions for many of us. 

Of course, everything you’re feeling now is valid. 

A simple, compassionate way to care for yourself can be to stop, take a deep breath, put your hand on your heart and remind yourself that you are safe. 

Before we can feel better, we want to stop and notice what our bodies are feeling. 

If you’re not sure how to name what you’re feeling, the online tool word hippo can help to find words that relate to a feeling you’re having. When you type in sad, you might connect more to being heartbroken or discouraged.

Simply putting a name to the emotion is a good first step. 

Then, describe the physical sensations in your body. Name them. Where do you feel tightening or tension? Is your chest heavy or is your heart racing? Is there a pit in your gut? 

Just acknowledging those sensations while taking some deep breaths can help. We’re not trying to change the feeling or sensation, but just to acknowledge it.

Many of us have more practice resisting our emotions or avoiding them by eating or drinking or doom scrolling to distract ourselves. 

When we actually stop to notice, observe and name them…we’ll find that they will often lessen in intensity, and sometimes in just a few minutes.

Continue to take some deep breaths and observe the feeling and its physical sensations. 

Remind yourself that the feeling…the sensation will pass. 

The process of allowing emotions is a powerful one.

Resist trying to talk yourself out of anything that you’re feeling...or wanting to quickly feel better. 

Before we can feel better, we simply need to feel. 

If you’d like a safe place to process your emotions, please reach out. I’m happy to help.