I think one of the best things we can do for ourselves when we are faced with high amounts of stress, is to learn how to break the cycle.
The body operates on feedback loops, so as long as stressful stimuli continues, the body will respond accordingly.
Aches, pains, muscle tension, headaches, insomnia, anxiety, digestive upsets, decreased ability to be present and focused, depression, moodiness, low self esteem. Any of these could be a signal from the body that stress is high and it needs some support.
So how do we break the cycle?
Go for a walk in the woods. Talk with a trusted friend. Sit quietly with a cup of tea. Have a massage. Meet with a therapist. Go to a yoga class. Burn some sage. Say a prayer. Take a bath. Read a book. Go for a run. Go for a hike. Ride your horse. Do something that you love. Anything that stops the input of stress.
That can be enough to break the cycle. It’s like hitting ctrl+alt+delete on a computer that has frozen from too many things going on in the background.
That can be enough to give your body a much needed break, even if just temporarily. It’s in that moment that you can take a step back, take a deep breath, and gain some perspective on how to best care for yourself while managing the stressful situation.
What could be more important than that?
Relieve tension. Restore mobility. Resume adventure.
