Do you ever feel like your brain is “bouncy” and won’t settle down?
Your brain, that magnificent machine, is not much different than the brain that kept your ancestors alive in dangerous situations. Today, though you may not need to worry about a mountain lion having you for dinner, other stresses are perceived and processed just you’re the physical dangers your ancestors faced.
That means a looming deadline or a fight with your partner creates the same “fight/flight/freeze” response that saved your ancestor way back in the day. If you “burned off” that adrenaline and cortisol cocktail by running or fighting off a predator, you would feel the relief and exhaustion but you would have also metabolized the stress chemicals that are meant to keep you alive.
However, when there is no physical response to the stressor your body is “all wound up with no place to go”. Over time this creates not only the “bouncy brain” feeling of distractibility and distress, but can manifest itself in physical ailments.
It’s impossible to avoid stress forever, but sometimes you just need a way to relieve the pressures of life for a moment. Here’s a quick way to settle your brain into a feeling of rest instead of distress:
Put one hand on your chest at collarbone level and one on your belly just under your naval. Now, take a slow deep breath filling your abdomen with air, just like you would fill a glass with water…from the bottom up. When you are full of air, pause for just a moment and really feel the fullness. Then slowly exhale, just like you would pour water out, from the top down. Pause again at “empty” and feel the relief of space. Repeat for 5-10 cycles.
If you find yourself feeling stressed and distressed too often, and you are a California resident, let’s talk! Book a complimentary 15 minute video consult here: