Are You Ready to Face the Past Events That are Affecting Your Wellbeing Today?

I have come to the realization that some of my clients are not able to experience their feelings in their bodies.  Some may not be ready to face the memories of the events that could be triggering as well. When someone cannot access their "gut" feelings, they don't have the ability to assess their ambivalent thoughts. We have all heard the recommendation of "Get out of your Head!" This is good advice since your "head" will go back and forth between your true beliefs and your negative self-talk. This can be confusing as they are usually two opposing views. So, if you cannot differentiate between your truth and the other thoughts you're wrestling with, what can you do? Most people go to friends and family to ask them what they should feel and think; this is not beneficial as you are letting others tell you who you are, how to feel and what to think. When you do that, you second guess yourself constantly and do not trust your own judgement.

When someone is ready to work on this issue, it is recommended to practice mindfulness, being present and taking that quiet introspective time daily to get in touch with yourself. This could be a gratitude list before getting out of bed, having coffee on the patio in the morning or taking a walk in nature. If you are in the habit of running from one activity to another all day, you may not allow yourself to find your inner voice or guidance.

If you're afraid to be alone with uncomfortable memories, remind yourself that after a few moments if you're experiencing intense feelings, you can shut them down like you normally do. Seeing a therapist that teaches you coping strategies for those moments may result in having more faith in yourself to face your challenges.

Let me know what you think. 

Lisa Tetreault, LMHC