Episode TWO - Navigating Stress, Fear & Frustration In Uncertian Times.

SHOW NOTES:

 
I wanna chat about the collective fear, stress and frustration that's happening in so many places all over the world right now.
 
Truth is, so much has been happening ALL year, and many of us have had our worlds turned upside down.1q
 
I also truly feel 2020 is the year of awakening, that’s for sure.
 
The veil is definitely being lifted. So much of what was once hidden in the shadows is now fully in sight.
 
All of the unfolding that has taken place this year has definitely created a great deal of stress, fear and frustration for many people.
 
Fear - of the virus and the unknown
 
Stress - from people losing their jobs, being at home isolated, not having their typical support network and feeling out of control.
 
Frustration - with how this whole situation is being dealt with, the lack of transparency and of differing opinions and views.
 
Plus the many other things I haven't mentioned.
 
So I wanna bring to light some potential unconscious things that may not be serving you, plus give you some ideas of how you can move forward. So that you can come out of all of this with your sanity and integrity still in tact.
 
NEWS & MEDIA
Firstly I want to touch on the news and media, and how overwhelming it can be taking in the drama and pain of the world on a daily basis.
 
I understand many people want to make sure they are "staying informed", though too much can just cause unnecessary suffering.
 
Think about it, before tv and mainstream media came along, we would have only really dealt with our own immediate and community problems. Though now we often have the news of the world weighing heavily on our shoulders.
 
Our poor little nervous systems can find it hard to harmonise when so much input is coming in.
 
But what's worse is that what you consume from the media can subconsciously signal to your nervous system that you aren't safe, putting you in a state of STRESS & FEAR. 
 
STRESS
Because whenever you watch something dramatic, scary, disturbing etc, whether it's real or made up your brain and body actually thinks it’s happening in your current reality, to you.
 
Consciously you know your safe but at the same time your body is being pumped full of adrenaline, you might start holding your breath or feel your heart beating a little faster.
 
Your safe but, your body is having a physiological response to something your just watching.
 
How insane is that.
 
FEAR
And then there's fear, which the media does a really freaking good job of filling people with with...
 
When you think about it the news is only "news" because majority of it is dramatic, and because humans are wired for survival our attention will always be attracted to anything that may be a threat. So if something is a threat to our life, work, income, environment, etc we will pay attention to it.
 
This is why the news often uses fear mongering headlines to keep you watching.
 
They're ALWAYS telling you to fear something... Not always directly but often indirectly.
 
CONTROL
The reason I share all this is because it’s important to know that when your in a state of stress or fear, you become easier to influence and control.. As being in a stressed or fearful state, turns on the survival part of your brain, making your rational thinking go out the window.
 
Now before you dismiss this, think about it. Fear has be used as a tool to manipulate and control others since the dawn of time. Many parents even used fear tactics to get us to behave as children.
 
  • Stop that or you'll get a smack
  • If you misbehave than Santa won't come
  • Hurry up or I'll leave you behind
  • Don't talk to strangers you'll get kidnaped
 
Etc. Some for our very safety, others just to make us comply and "behave".
 
You might also be able to relate to your own internal fears, and how they might have dictated your decisions in the past.
 
How many times have you self sabotaged or not done something cause you were scared?
 
I can think I soooo many examples in my own life where fear held me back and dictated my decisions.
 
  1. Staying in a broken relationship cause I was scared I’d only get hurt again in the next one.
 
  1. Not putting myself out their because of fear of not being “good enough”, being judged and rejected.
 
  1. Staying in a job that I wasn’t enjoying cause I was scared of starting a new career.
 
These are all fears I moved through, but for a very long time I let them dictate my actions. I was operating from a place of FEAR instead of LOVE.
 
When you are in the emotional state of fear, everything you do will be based around survival, as fear is one of the most powerful human emotions.
 
Now fear isn't innately bad or wrong, it definitely serves us in certain circumstances but it’s debilitating and dangerous when present unnecessarily. Which I'm seeing a lot right now with all the fear mongering and hysteria around the virus.
 
COVID FEAR
Again, I know this is touchy, but I'm gonna go there cause it's relevant to what's happening right now.
 
Its true that COVID has resulted in death in some of the population, though typically the people who have tragically died from it seems to be the elderly (people aged in their 80s-90s who likely had other underlying medical conditions).
 
Now please don't misconstrue as to what I just said. This isn't to say the elderly don't matter. I love and respect all elders, and I think they should be protected.
 
But I find what the media and government fails to inform people on is that COVID isn't a death sentence.
 
99% of cases are mild.
 
Instead the government and media are focusing on the 1-3% death rate, instead of the 97-99% survival rate.
 
This fear has resulted in the current stage 4 lockdowns in Melbourne Victoria where I live.
 
The FEAR that has been created in my opinion is dysregulated to the severity of this virus.
 
I agree that the vulnerable population (the elderly, immunocompromised, asthmatics, diabetics etc) should be cocooned and protected - all of our resources could be going towards protecting these people.
 
Though instead the whole city of melbourne has gone into strict lockdown out of FEAR.
 
MENTAL HEALTH
As a result of these strict lockdowns mental health issues are compounding, it's even been predicted that there will be a "generational mental health crisis".
 
Instead of hospitals being overwhelmed the mental health support system is completely overwhelmed, with up to a 40% increase in calls to beyond blue and kids help line etc.
 
I was eve told by my friend who works for "000" in the police dispatch unit that she has already recognised a huge jump in suicides since COVID.
 
3000 people on average commit suicide in Australia every year, and experts have predicted there will be anywhere from 750-1500 extra people every year commit suicide, due to the isolation, fear, job loss, domestic violence, financial pressure etc from COVID lockdowns.
 
The reason I speak to the mental health implications is because I too have gone through my own mental health challenges and I feel it's only due to my current practices, routines and awareness that I'm able to keep myself afloat during this time.
 
If I was where I was mentally 5 years ago, I don't think I would be "keeping my shit together" as well as I am currently.
 
This isn't to say I haven't had my moments while trying to adapt to this whole situation. Though theses days I know how to recognise when I'm headed in a downward spiral, I know my limits, I have better boundaries, I have certain practices that nurture my mind body and spirit.
 
It's my belief that FEAR is the real virus here, because when people are in a state of stress and fear their immune system won't work effectively.
 
So I want to offer you some suggestions of how to manage your energy and calm your nervous system through these times, so you can come out of this stronger and more connected.
 
 
1. Think critically
Firstly I invite you to think critically - With so many opinions, views and projections in the world right now, critical thinking is so incredibly important.
 
I understand most people who watch main stream media are VERY well informed about one particular way of looking at and approaching this COVID situation.
 
So in sharing all that I am today, it's my intention to return balance to the conversation and offer a different way of looking at things and put COVID back into perspective.
 
Even the languaging being thrown around this whole thing feels off, it just doesn't make sense to me and it's not something I'm willing to stand behind.
 
There's nothing social about social distancing.
Quarantine is meant for sick people.
Not everyone is "safer" at home.
 
It's been said "It's for the greater good", greater good of who?
  • People have lost their entire livelihoods.
  • Businesses that were passed down from generation to generation are ruined.
  • Many small businesses may never reopen.
  • We have destroyed the australian economy.
  • Communities and our sense of connection has been completely disturbed.
  • Kids educations have been totally interrupted.
  • People are turning to alcohol and food as a coping mechanism.
  • Many people are stuck in homes with an abuser.
  • Kids aren't able to play and connect with other kids
  • Relationships and families are under so much more stress due to homeschooling and lack of support.
  • People with mental health issues don't have access to 1-1 in person support
 
There's nothing "normal" about this so called "new normal" of masks, being scared of other human beings, locking ourselves inside and thinking a vaccine can save us.
 
There have been 22,358 recorded COVID cases in Australia, and of those 22,358, 361 have been fatal.
 
Whether these deaths were directly due to COVID or whether they died WITH this virus in their system is another question... As there's always many contributing factors to EVERYTHING.
 
But did you know?
*2018 stats
 
Total deaths  &  Causes
3,102 -
Flu - Flu vax was available
2,952 -
Accidental falls
4,656 -
Diabetes
17,533 -
Heart disease
3,046 -
Suicide
 
 
So my question is, if this whole thing was really about health why isn't there more education being shared about how to support the immune system. Plus how to maintain good health as the data has shown that people with diabetes and heart disease etc (which are lifestyle induced diseases) are more vulnerable.
 
And this goes back to my previous episode of holistic health.
 
Modern medicine is about managing these diseases with medication and things outside of the body.
 
Where a natural and holistic approach instead looks at how to empower the people with knowledge plus build a healthier more adaptable body from the inside out.
 
So in the next episode I'll be sharing more about how to support your immune system, so please let me know if you have any questions around that.
 
 
2. Boundaries
Okay now moving on I want to speak about boundaries, this is a huge topic so I'm just going to focus on one aspect.
 
Which is having boundaries with media, as the news is designed to keep you consuming and in a state of fear.
 
so, I highly suggest that you create some healthy boundaries around how much news you consume o a daily/weekly basis.
 
Limiting this alone will absolutely help you feel lighter and more energetically clear. As many people especially empaths unknowingly take on other peoples problems as their own.
 
This is definitely true for myself as I even need to be mindful when watching tv or movie dramas, as my body literally feels as if I'm in it.
 
So check in with yourself. How much news or media are you consuming? and can you half it?
 
I also suggest switching off all media by 8pm or at least an hour before bed. As your brain is more in the theata state at night, which makes you more susceptible to emotionally take things on.
 
 
3. Practice compassion 
Everyone is having their own experience through this based on their own beliefs and life experiences up until this point. 
 
There is a lot of reactivity circulating right now, though remember everyone is doing their best to navigate these quickly changing times.
 
We have all had our worlds turns upside down, and when anyone is in a state of high stress or in fight or flight mode reaction is natural. So be mindful not to take things personally.
 
  1. Practice compassion for others, everyone is on their own journey and not everyone will have the same beliefs and experiences as you. All we can ever do is stand in our own truth, moment to moment. When your able to respond from a place of compassion when someone is reacting, they typically run outta amo pretty quick.
 
  1. Have compassion for yourself - Your allowed to feel okay and happy one day and then feel frustrated and over it the next. What's happening in the word right now is chaotic, we have never experienced anything like this before, so it will feel like a bit of a roller coaster. Though as you continue to adapt and find your edges you will slowly find your center again.
 
  1. Also remembering the fact that, hurt people hurt people. You could literally cry if you knew the extent of everyone’s internal suffering. It’s very rare that someone who is happy, whole and full of love would ever want to intentionally hurt someone else.
 
  1. People will have differences of opinion and respond differently, so remember to honor where people are at.
 
 
4. Nourishing your nervous system and practice stress management.
Now there is so many ways to do this, through food, breath, meditation, massage, mindfulness, energy work, art etc.
 
Though I just want to invite you to take some space for yourself, tune in and ask:
  • What is your body needing right now?
  • What would feel really nourishing?
 
It could be something as simple as, standing out of the grass for a few minutes in silence listening to the sound of your breathe or taking a warm bath.
 
I have a whole mini-series on stress management inside my membership program the Holistic Living Hub, but I trust this should hopefully get you started and get you tuning back into yourself and the wisdom your body holds.
 
Trust that your body has the answer, you just gotta listen.
 
and I just want to leave you with this quote by Robert Augustus Masters PHD
 
"To avoid death is to avoid what it makes possible, slowly but surely numbing us to life."
 
That's all for this week. :)
 
This was a big episode, you may need to listen a couple of times.
 
I just wanna take this opportunity to thank you.
Thank you for showing up and Thank you for staying with me and listening through until the end..
I appreciate you.
 
As always I would love to here your feedback on this one.
Plus don't forget to subscribe or follow on whatever podcast app you use, so you don't miss a thing and get early access to future episodes.
 
Much LOVE,
 
Have a beautiful week.
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