HOW TO MANAGE FEAR & ANGER POST ELECTION

Panic, fear and anger are very normal responses to what has taken place over the last week (and months). Many of us feel threatened and angered by all that is happening. We are in hyper-reactivity mode and our emotions have been propelling us forward. Everywhere people are saying and doing things they would not ordinarily say or do.

BE AWARE OF THE POWER OF YOUR SURVIVAL RESPONSE

This high adrenaline response (survival response) is a natural and normal biological response, programmed into our DNA, to give us the biological resources we need to keep ourselves and our loved ones safe in a threatening situation. It is not ALL that we are. Not by a long shot, and it’s important that we take time, now, to reconnect with the rational and more expansive aspects of our selves.

The threat seems immediate and our bodies are responding as if it is. But, it is not, at least for most of us. Our bodies don’t know this, and the adrenaline coursing through our veins is telling us to fight or flee when there’s nowhere to flee and no one to punch! We take this adrenaline to social media and pick fights with our words, or we bark at our kids or spouses. This doesn’t satisfy our bodies need for calm. In fact, it keeps us in a heightened state of reactivity and keeps the adrenaline flowing.

Our best course of action at this time is to do the opposite. It may feel counter intuitive, but we need to make a concerted effort to calm ourselves. Remaining in a hyper alert state for long periods of time is hard on our bodies and will ultimately drain our resources. We may need these resources down the road when a course of action becomes clear.

Now it behooves us to take a deep breath and do everything we can to find our center of calm. We think more clearly when we are calm. We act more carefully and intelligently when we are calm. During challenging times such as these, we need to think and act with the best of who we are, not in reaction to a set of circumstances that at this time is beyond our control. There will come a time for action. We will know it when it arrives. Today, taking care of ourselves and restoring our sense of security within ourselves is our job.

BE VIGILANT IN SELF-CARE

As we live out the coming months and years, our ability to be vigilant in our self-care, will allow us to stay the course. Establishing a sense of security and calm within ourselves provides an anchor that will help us ride out the storms. You may want to consider professional anger management if you are struggling.

In my experience this can be accomplished by engaging in any or all of these practices. You may have your own.

• avoid unnecessary confrontation
• decrease exposure to inflammatory rhetoric/media
• disconnect entirely from the internet for a period of time
•  limit news/TV/electronic devices
• take several deep breaths periodically throughout the day – we tend to hold our breath and breath shallowly when we are tense; deep breathing actually activates calming mechanisms in our body.
• moderate exercise – a brisk walk, swimming, dancing
• spending time outdoors, preferably in a natural setting away from the hustle and bustle of every day life.
• pets can be calming – take some time each day to cuddle with yours; no doubt they will be calmer as well!
• eat healthfully and avoid alcohol and junk food (Adrenal Burnout Soup Recipe)
• get lots of sleep (even if you need a little help to do so for a while)
• spend time with people who are calm and with whom you feel safe;
• avoid those who don’t (it doesn’t mean you have to stop loving them!)
• soak in a hot tub
• use essential oils in a diffuser or sprinkle on a cotton ball and carry in your pocket
• meditate/pray
• practice mindfulness
• body work/massage/
• read positive, reflective literature
• tune into yourself in silence; heart/mind/body/soul
• Listen to and follow your intuition

We will get through this together.  Dorothy

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