Two responses to dysregulation

When the nervous system is dysregulated, how to react

HI:)

How are you feeling today?

I want to share some examples with you about reactions to disregulated nervous system response.

I wanted to show you the difference in approach. One that causes more stress and the other - that allows peace being learned overtime.

So. When the body and mind says - you are in danger. MOVE!!!

When actually in front of you is just a cat (for comparison reasons). Responding to this reaction can be confusing and can be learned.

When the system goes into overdrive, just trying to protect you, you can fight back. Start to analyze, ruminate, go into overdrive to try and find a solution. You can try and in your mind find the best possible solution, outcome, way, tell your mind and system why it is wrong, why it should feel different.

See the tone in this response? How this is causing even more of a trigger?

Don’t fight back.

That was my mistake. I used to go straight in and fight, and discuss, and try to analyze and that caused more being on edge.

That was a response I learned, but now no more needed. So, responding to constant activation with more activation didn’t help.

What helped more?

A response where the approach includes being with what is happening and letting it pass. Although oh how scary it can be sometimes, but that’s fine.

Soothing, allowing the thoughts to pass (yes, this took time to learn), to just witness and understand that it’s just trying to protect you. Letting them pass through you and you are the one who observes and listens. Seeing it from a bigger picture, what caused this activation, what is the reason this is now happening, taking the focus out from the constant activation and seeing it from a kinder, more compassionate, understanding perspective. It will pass. If there was a way in, there is a way out.

What helped more was to learn a gentler approach, also including physical movement, grounding techniques, using my voice as a tool for calming, and letting it pass through. Not catching on every thought that comes to try and fix it. It is not you.

Journaling as well when necessary, and getting deeper when the state is more calm.

So, my big lesson here was not to go and participate in activating the stimulation even more, but to breathe, allow, release and let it pass.

As my friend says, you are not your mind, you are the one who listens to your mind.

An example would be:

I currently see a scene in my mind where I was going to an event much desired, where I knew I could relax and be, let it be. But in that moment Iwas very activated and in survival mode from before had stress.

And for me I had to learn that it won’t happen fast, the tension might not release in a couple of seconds as I walk into the space, but it is okay for it to take time. It will happen. I can just take my time with it, show up as I am, not try to force my way into happiness, but with a gentler approach glide into calm over some time.

Phew. I even love the release I feel when telling this to you.

So. When my nervous system had learned to be in protection almost all the time , survival mode was unescapable and reaction - understandable. Now, what can I put in to calm, nourish and bring my system back into regulation?

It is learning this response that soothes, rather than causes more activation.

It’s choosing a different way every time.

And … it’s limiting and quitting self blame, replacing it with curiosity and understanding.

How do you like it?

If you find something similar in your journey as I share from mine, it’s interesting to know;)

And please, if you need to, remember to ask for help from a friend or a professional when it is necessary.

I am here sharing from my personal journey and my knowledge.

Take care of you:)

Best wishes,

Ella Renāte