When You're On 'THIN ICE'

How often are we on 'THIN ICE'?  Likely, rarely and NOT often, right?  BUT When You're On 'THIN ICE', how should we handle things from that point onwards?  WHEN we're in something like SURVIVAL MODE?  In simple techie jargon, SURVIVAL MODE is essentially booting in 'SAFE MODE'.  Things like prolonged grief, trauma, OR even burnout can cause our brains to opt in booting in this way, kind of our brain entering SURVIVAL MODE.  Some sort of trauma may be at the root of one's grief, OR burnout may just be our experience as we return from work [after a long time].  Trauma can be defined and classified in many ways.  And this can feel like a heavy term to many.  Essentially, any short-term OR long-term, very stressful experience, can indeed be traumatizing.  YES, many of us did experience trauma during that pandemic, including strained relationships due to the pandemic and ongoing stress associated with WHAT we are seeing on the news OR even in our personal lives📗📙📘

Psychologists have coined this jargon 'FIGHT, FLIGHT, FREEZE and FAWN' and according to the experts, that results in our body saying 'ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS ONLY'.  That explains WHY trauma responses often feel like a lack of focus, that 'WAIT, WHAT HAPPENED?'  The feeling of reading something five times over and still DON'T know WHAT it's all about.  Feel like you are operating on a short fuse OR simply exhausted and procrastinating tasks you WON'T usually procrastinate❌❌❌

Just to take a sneak preview of FIGHT, FLIGHT, FREEZE and FAWN:

• FIGHT - WHEN facing a perceived danger head-on
• FLIGHT - WHEN running away from danger
• FREEZE - WHEN unable to to act against a threat
• FAWN - WHEN immediately acting to try to please to avoid any conflict.  

Experts say that each of these responses is our body's best attempt at SURVIVAL💥💥💥

Experts shared a sampling of the tell-tale signs that we are about OR are already in SURVIVAL MODE:

• WHEN forgetting to take care of one's basic needs
• WHEN feeling more tired than usual OR expected
• WHEN emotion regulation goes out of the window
• WHEN multitasking becomes challenging
• WHEN memory lapses or issues happen

Exports forewarn us that any of these signs and symptoms are the early indicators that you may be headed for OR are already in that SURVIVAL MODE.  And being aware and conscious of these early indicators and manifestations, naming them and responding accordingly, can help manage and prevent living in that precarious SURVIVAL MODE.  Picking their brains...😐😐😐

Our takeaway:  Experts keep counselling us to embrace SELF-COMPASSION, SELF-REGULATION and SELF-CARE.  While SELF-COMPASSION is a practice of goodwill and NOT good feelings, it lets ourselves to commit mistakes.  WHEREAS SELF-REGULATION is our own ability to manage our emotions , thoughts and behaviors to reach a positive outcome WHILE in SELF-CARE, we need to notice WHICH dimension is impacted because our own SELF-CARE kicks in from there.  All these WHEN YOU'RE ON THIN ICE, dude✅✅✅