Stay safe! Possibly one of the most dangerous remnants of lockdown
This line must go! In my opinion it is possibly one of the most dangerous remnants of lockdown. Have we thought of the implications? The impact on our subconscious minds as adults and very much conscious minds of our children?
Stay safe! It implies we are not safe and must constantly scan our environment for pending danger. I see an increasing number of children in highly anxious states. They do not want to go to school or leave the house at all. Who’s to blame them when they constantly hear everyone exchanging stay safe!?
If our children are feeling it consciously it means subconsciously there’s a good chance us adults are too. A vigilant environment is no good for anyone. As I love to explain simply our brain should have a well trained guard dog in charge of telling us when we need to respond to danger; i.e. the good old fight, flight, fauna or freeze response. With stay safe as a daily mantra, the wise dog turns into a complete worry monster.?
The body is pumped with adrenalin and cortisol, ready to react. The worry monster misreads a lot of sensory cues, blowing everything out of proportion. All the regulating, logical parts of the brain are switched off. We are completely in brainstem reactions to ensure we ‘stay safe’.?
Once in this state with the worry monster at the helm it can be really difficult to turn it around. While children develop odd fears about going to school or swallowing their food, adults develop autoimmune illnesses, back and neck pain and may suffer with anxiety and depression. A pretty grim picture. Hence my appeal!?
Can we please drop stay safe. Most of the time we are safe. This is not the zombie apocalypse! If you are struggling to agree with me there’s a good chance a worry monster has taken over your brain(of course I’m not referring to those literally living in a war zone). For the sake of everyone’s brain health let’s move on! Take care or have a great day are much better alternatives in my opinion. Brainworking Recursive Therapy(BWRT) is my go to monster buster. Your Guard Dog could be reinstated in just a couple of sessions.?
Shelley Hall
Clinical Psychologist & BWRT Practitioner.
Conceptualise. Target. Advance.?
Clinical Psychologist | BWRT Practitioner | Trauma
1 年I think this weekend has further evidenced how vulnerable our minds are at the moment. We really need to make a point of taking control back of our anxieties and reinstating our sense of safety.
Private Practice Registered Counsellor, IC Lecturer, Mediator, Psychotherapist, TRE practitioner
1 年Reaching into my mind and speaking my thoughts. Thanks Shelley, definitely something to be conscious of.
JOURNALIST featuring wellness professionals in podcasts and digital & magazine articles |HOST of the Calm, Clear & Helpful Podcast Show lOwner of a HOLISTIC HEALTH website.
1 年Food for thought ...