Love Society

By: Jodie Foster

Stress, overwhelm and trauma can throw you off kilter, making you
feel spacey, emotionally vacant and even sick to your stomach.
With the tragedies happening in the Gulf Coast region right now,
this is to be expected, even if you aren’t physically in the
area.

If you are a survivor of the storm, or someone who has had close
personal contact with it, this information is especially powerful
and useful right now.

Extreme trauma can send you reeling, and ‘out of your body’.
Being ‘out of body’ adds to your stress and confusion. However,
it is a normal reaction, however when you experience pain and
suffering. It is also a common occurrence when you’re feeling
emotionally overwhelmed, or don’t want to deal with certain
emotional issues.

Many people in the rest of the country have been unable to watch
the media because they feel the feelings, leading to emotional
overwhelm. Many of these sensitive folks will turn to avoidance
mechanisms, addictions or overwork in order to deal with the
emotional overwhelm.

There are techniques and tools that are helpful and can make a
difference in how you feel, whether you are a bystander or a
survivor. These tools don’t require anything other than your
intention, your focus and your time. You may be familiar with
many, however in times of crisis a reminder may be helpful. We
‘forget’ that we can make a change. We ‘forget’ that we are
powerful within ourselves. We ‘forget’ that we are strong and
resilient. We ‘forget’ that we inherently have a desire to
survive and to thrive.

Here are a list of several ‘reminders’, tools and techniques that
anyone can use at any time:

•One powerful, daily practice is to visualize yourself being
connected to the earth through ‘roots’ from the bottom of your
feet. Being grounded, or connected strongly with the earth keeps
your foundation solid. This focused grounding visualization keeps
you planted within your body, helping you to process emotion with
courage and stability.

Focus your energies into your feet and down through roots into
the ground; feel the stability and security of being solidly
planted. Visualize your body as a tree that is planted in the
ground, drawing nourishment from below, while your branches reach
up to the sky drawing nourishment from above. This brings a
feeling of connectedness, or oneness with all life. It’s
important to know that you are not alone during times of stress
or crisis. Reach deep within yourself and connect, then reach
outward and ask for help if needed. Get grounded and stay
connected.

•Another practice which can be used several times a day is
simply to quiet your mind. Start by closing your eyes, breathing
deeply and allowing whatever thoughts that go through your mind
to drift to the side, focusing only on your breath. Feel the air
going in through your nose and out through your mouth. Each time
there is a thought, allow it to go to the sidelines, fading into
the background while you focus on your breath.

This is a calming meditative practice. There is no outcome or
desired result. It is simply about quieting the mind. As you
follow your breath, you will notice your body begin to relax,
allowing more oxygen to flow through your muscles, calming your
body response. You may feel sleepy after a few minutes, this can
be very helpful for people who have been under extreme stress for
several days.

•If available, drink as much pure water as you can. The quantity
may be different for each person. Do not overwhelm your body
with too much water if you have been deprived of it for several
days. Water will flush toxins from the body, but will also
flush stress and emotional overwhelm. It clears the body, mind
and spirit.

•If you have the availabilty, have a Bach Flower Remedy on hand
called Rescue Remedy. This is an all natural, homeopathic remedy
made from flowers that calms the emotional body in times of
extreme stress, panic and anxiety. It can be found in most
health food stores and is available online.

•Allow yourself to receive help and support from those around
you. Trust that you are being cared for and know that you are
worthy and deserving of that assistance. Also, allow yourself to
experience relief as it washes over you. Relief is an emotional
release as well as a release of physical tension. It gives your
body permission to let go of the tension and stress that has
built up, allowing the entire body to relax. You may notice an
emotional release at this time. Simply give in and allow your
feelings to flow. Know that you are safe.

© 2005 Jodie Foster

Jodie Foster is an Intuitive Counselor who assists clients to create extraordinary transformations in their daily lives. Her work is uplifting, empowering and success-oriented. You can visit Jodie’s website at http://www.illuminationsnetwork.com for further information and to schedule a private intuitive session. You can also look for weekly updates to her blog at: http://intuitiveinnovations.blogspot.com.

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