Checking in on You: Did you survive the holidays?
So the holidays have come and gone- how are you doing? A lot of times the holidays can bring to light issues we have been dealing with for a long time but have pushed off getting help about. We know you are being inundated with weight loss and gym ads that have a lot of hype around quick fixes and drastic results. While that is definitely appealing the truth is that there is no way around doing the hard work to heal our childhood wounds and pain that may still get activated around family.
If you noticed yourself getting triggered this holiday season we encourage you to get curious about what was happening. What are the feelings that come up for you? What emotions are being triggered? Where do you notice feeling this tension in your body? All of this is really good information to start to help you identify patterns that may be triggering something from earlier in life. And no one will trigger us like our families!
If you notice for example that you were feeling more anxious around family this season, try to get curious about that anxiety. We know from research that when we are able to shift into a state of curiosity, it actually helps our brain produce more dopamine which is our happy hormone. So notice that anxiety when you’re walking into your parents’ house. Where do you feel it in your body? A common place is to feel it in your gut, chest, shoulders, and/or head. Try to be curious about that sensation. Is there a belief that goes with it? Maybe I am powerless, not worthy, not safe? Then, begin to get curious if there are emotions that get triggered when you think about walking in there. Do you feel fear, sadness, confusion, dread? When you hold all of this in awareness does it bring you back to an earlier time in your life when you may have felt something similar? This is often the case.
What our bodies have not healed from gets triggered in our present day experiences and sometimes it can feel very random. All of these questions are things that we explore as part of EMDR therapy and can help us create a path towards healing. If you are looking for support after dealing with difficult family relationships or being triggered this holiday season feel free to grab our free self care checklist to go a little deeper into how you can care for yourself. Or reach out to us to get connected with a therapist.
