How are you faring 9 months into the pandemic?

by | Nov 10, 2020 | Mind Body Medicine Sioux City

I am not, to be totally honest. Nobody is. It is hard to keep it together all the time, for ourselves, and our loved ones during the pandemic.

Most of us are feeling exhausted, numb and burned out from dealing with decision fatigue. 

I recently listened to a podcast by Brené Brown where she interviewed two authors of a book called Burnout. The authors talked about how emotional exhaustion happens because we don’t let the neurobiology of emotion complete its full cycle. 

What does that mean?

Every emotion has a beginning, a middle and an end. And when we don’t let the emotion complete the full cycle, we get stuck in a tunnel. This is when burn out, exhaustion and emotional numbing show up in our lives, our bodies and out relationships. 

How can you let your emotions complete the full cycle?

1) Physical activity
This can be as simple as taking a walk outside, or doing your favorite stretch. Have you ever watched how easily and frequently cats and dogs stretch and shake it off? Our pets are onto something very wise.

2) Breathing
This can be as simple as breathing in to a count of 4, holding your breath to a county of 4 and exhaling to a count of 4. Or, even letting out a long, loud sigh would do!

3) Positive Social Interaction
This can be as simple as smiling at someone, or being kind to a stranger, or saying “Have a nice day” to someone at the store. 

4) Laughter
Think of a really funny joke, or an amusing encounter and let yourself laugh about it. You may want to have someone else to share the laugh with! 

5) Affection
Cuddle up with your pet. Give a hug to someone you are close to. 

6) Creative Self Expression
Take whatever is inside of you and put it outside of you in a creative expression. Maybe you like to make collage. Maybe you like to knit, or make origami.

Give yourself permission to daydream

Even by imagining your way through a story, that is a form of self expression. Give yourself permission to daydream.

The picture above was taken in my office. Iowa is not by the beach, so I bought this picture of a beach to help me imagine being by the beach, next to a nice breeze. And, I put the puppets next to it to remind me of what it is like to simply be and play by the beach.

There is no right or wrong way to how you express yourself. So, go ahead and imagine your heart’s desires. 

“Take your broken heart and make it into art,” as Carrie Fisher says. What art do you give yourself permission to create?

SEARCH BLOGS

RECENT BLOGS

A Psychiatrist’s Reflections on Ramadan

A Psychiatrist’s Reflections on Ramadan

If you live in the US, and hear the word Ramadan, what comes up to your mind? The most common answer is fasting. But, there is much more to Ramadan than fasting. One of the communities I grew up in during my formative years was the Muslim community.  The majority of...

Transgenerational Trauma

Transgenerational Trauma

Question From a Reader: Dr. A, I am not sure If I am writing you about myself or my son because I feel like we are one and the same. I look at my son and see myself when I was his age. My son is a teenager and has been more moody lately, skipping school, hanging out...

Neurodiversity

Neurodiversity

Question from a reader: Dr. A, I am a woman in my 30s and was recently diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder. I got through college, professional life and relationships with some challenges because “I wasn’t like other women.” I don’t think of myself as the “typical...

Putting the Self back in Complex PTSD

Putting the Self back in Complex PTSD

Learn about what Complex PTSD is and the four steps that you can take to help yourself heal and overcome trauma to live a fulfilling and meaningful life.

Self Harm in Adolescents: My teen cuts on her wrists – now what?

Self Harm in Adolescents: My teen cuts on her wrists – now what?

QUESTION FROM A READER: I noticed that my daughter, who is 14 years old, always wants to wear long sleeve shirts and wants to cover her wrists. The other day, I saw scars on both of her wrists and inner thighs. She talks about how other girls in school cut on...

Eating Disorders: How to identify them and help teens cope

Eating Disorders: How to identify them and help teens cope

A QUESTION FOR THE DOCTOR: Dr. A, My 12-year-old daughter struggled with being overweight until she hit a growth spurt. Her weight stayed the same but she grew a few inches. Nobody has ever said anything about her weight, but she recently became obsessed with her...

Smartphone addiction: How kids get sucked in and how to help

Smartphone addiction: How kids get sucked in and how to help

QUESTION FROM A READER: My tween spends most of her time on her smartphone. She has no interest in hanging out with us as her family. Even when she is sitting with us, she is constantly scrolling through her phone, and doesn’t engage with us. When we take her phone so...

Holistic Ways to Treat Insomnia: Part 1

Holistic Ways to Treat Insomnia: Part 1

QUESTION FROM A READER: I have been struggling with my sleep lately and wondering about natural ways to help me with my sleep. Because I haven’t been sleeping well, I am tired during the day. I have tried over the counter medications, but I have woken up with a hang...

Tips on how to decrease anxiety

DOWNLOAD: Tips on How to Decrease Anxiety

Share your email to get a free download that includes tips on relaxation, breathing and keeping a schedule.

You have Successfully Subscribed!