06/03/2025
Feeling anxious about the cyclone ???
Firstly, totally understandable if so.
Remember, the alarm centre of our brains has a job to do and actually comes in very handy when there is a real threat (& even if we wanted to, we can’t control when that takes over).
In the situations where our alarm system has gone off, but there is not a real danger at present (but we are no longer in our ‘safety’ nervous system) there are some things that can help.
🌸 Grounding techniques can bring us back to the present moment - see above for a couple of suggestions. Noticing and naming what is around you can be easy yet effective.
🌸Stretching /move your body - stretching up ⬆️ is especially helpful if you are in a low energy (parasympathetic nervous system) state.
🌸 Deep breathing - taking longer more intentional breaths. There are different techniques out there- I have added one above as a suggestion.
🌸 Meditation - a great FREE app is called ‘Smiling Mind.’
🌸 Connect with others - reach out to your friends, family, neighbours. Don’t forget - we can always connect to ourselves too. Nice warm cuppa, perhaps?
🌸 Allow your emotions- they are there to tell you something and usually they refuse to leave until you pay them some attention. They are completely normal- part of being human. Usually they come and go but if you feel stuck (traumatic events can do this) please reach out to your local mental health professional.
We are all different and so different things work for each of us. If it doesn’t create harm and it works for you, lean into those self regulation techniques!
Sending you all love, we are in this together.
I am on the Northern Gold Coast bunkered down with many others. Please reach out if you have any questions. Bear in mind if I do not reply there may be issues with power/internet.
—- Social media is not a substitute for therapy. If you are in need, please reach out to myself, any of the national helplines and if in crisis , always 000.
