Don’t assume that your emotions are facts!
They are real, they are happening, and you should pay attention to them, however, don’t assume that they are cold hard FACT.
FELT SENSE of emotion does not equal FACT in reality.
For example, you can feel one way internally, however, the meaning you attach to it could be completely false.
That meaning can then lead you to self-sabotaging behaviors, harmful thoughts, and put you into a negative feedback cycle.
I often refer to the importance of developing healthy coping skills. One of the most valuable coping skills is that of "TRACKING."
Let's dig into what it means to "track" in psychological terms.
Not only can you track your progress, emotions, triggers, beliefs, thought patterns, actions, consequences, etc. You can also track the sensation of emotions in your body.
In trauma informed psychotherapy, it is crucial to create awareness around body sensations and embodied experiences. This gives us a sense of presence, power, awareness, connection, and helps foster a sense of security in our bodies.
Read MoreThere has been a lot of uproar lately about the new Weight Watchers — Kurbo app, designed for children and adolescents 8-17 to promote weight-loss, calorie counting (via the “points system”) and a “healthier lifestyle.”
I absolutely want us to educate, inspire, and support children from a young age to live their healthiest lives. However, being a chubby child who dieted all my childhood and young adult life, and now being an eating disorder professional (psychotherapist), I think it’s important to do some education on the damage of this philosophy behind “weight-loss.” I’ve seen it first hand, and it’s been proven again and again, that childhood weight-loss efforts can lead to or often worsen disordered eating and body image issues!
Read MoreI am one of those people that needs to hear things SEVERAL times, before I am able to have awareness around a situation.
Read MoreDoing the work isn't always fun. Yet it is necessary!
Don't let "not feeling like it" derail you or get too loud in your head.
There are a ton of things that I don't feel like doing, yet, I love results, so I do them anyways.
Some tips to help you take action and do the things you don't really want to do!
Fear at best is an emotion that is trying to keep us safe, however, more often than not, fear is a perception problem keeping us stuck. This is why some people say that FEAR is an acronym that stands for “False Evidence Appearing Real.” I have a revised and helpful version of an acronym below that will help you deconstruct and stand up to your fears!
Read MoreAre you intimately connected and aware of your triggers? There is a great quote that says that "triggers are the guides."Most people assume that triggers are bad, however, they are opportunities to stay sharp and on top of your healing.When you are triggered, you have a choice. You can either react, respond, or numb out. REACTION is usually knee jerk. There is not much thought behind it, it is automatic, it is impulsive, and usually destructive. RESPONSES are more thoughtful, intentional, wise, learned behavior, and practiced. They take time to develop, and usually lead to long term happiness and success. NUMBING out is basically shutting down and not having a response at all. This can feel very helpless, hopeless, and put you into victim mode.
Read MoreI know that it's difficult to do, however, you MUST MUST MUST feel your feelings. ⠀
Trust me, I'm a professional #lol
But in all seriousness, your emotions are trying to communicate with you.⠀
