27/10/2025
Anti-anxiety and antidepressant medications are a lifesaver in the midst of trauma or for a while after the trauma occurred. They offer support and space in an intense time, and they help us to not feel like we have been hit by a train or want to jump in front of one. They are supposed to be a temporary solution, though, not a permanent lifeline.
However, the long-term side effects of these meds have proven negative side effects, and the doctors (not all) that enjoy the commission kickbacks from the prescriptions just don't care about us enough to support us in setting up the correct frameworks that can support us in living a fully embodied life, sans medication.
A recovery process doesn't rely on just 1 modality; it is a holistic approach that includes:
1. Guidance support (therapist, counsellor, or mentor)
2. Social support (friends, family, community)
3. Physical movement (walking, tai chi, gym, yoga)
4. Personal practice (something that is a blend of movement, journalling, and breathing.) Something that you can do alone, with minimal resources, that can grow with you. This is what we lean into when things go pear-shaped and we don't have any of the other support structures to lean into in the moment. It is often our bad habits that we go back to if we don't have something else in place here.
Numbers 3 & 4 are where these above practices come in. They can be learnt relatively easily and be done within 5 - 15 minutes, and the benefits can be felt. They can be done virtually anywhere and are practices that can evolve and grow alongside you.
Personally, my personal practice is what has given me strength and confidence in so many of my darkest moments. It holds me when there is no one else to hold me. It shows me my strength when I feel weak. It gives me the space to feel when nothing else does.
That is why I want to share it with you.