Many of us go OUT OF OUR WAY not to feel our feelings. (Me too!)
We would rather...
Binge watch TV shows
Binge eat carbs and sugars
Drink excessively
Smoke Cigarettes
Work ourselves ragged
Run up credit card debt on "retail therapy"
Spend countless hours on social media and gaming
While this stuff provides us with some momentary relief, we know it's really a way for us to avoid dealing with uncomfortable thoughts and feelings. So, on top of the built-up stress, we pile on the self-criticism and shame...and so the cycle continues.
How do we break this vicious cycle? How do we recharge our batteries and have enough energy to power through the day? How do we actually reduce our stress and heal our trauma? How can we teach kids do the same?
There is no cookie-cutter answer here...
Each of us need to embark on our own self-care journey and find what works for us. I hope that sharing our personal journeys helps to illuminate the path forward for you.