this captures something people don’t say out loud enough!! that “regulation” is often treated like a personal failure instead of a structural one. The line about trying to calm a smoke detector while something is still burning... *claps*
I really resonated with your article. Box breathing actually increases my anxiety, so instead I focus on making my exhale longer than my inhale. I find this helps me feel calmer and more grounded.
You got this totally right! The things that are “supposed to work” seem to add more pressure and more things that we didn’t do right. Sometimes the reset for me is to just stop trying it all and just let it come. Stop fighting and making it worse, and just pass through the storm. It always clears and that keeps me going.
Ohhh this is a good one! Currently working on healing my nervous system. I literally can’t stand the “advice” we get from others as if we haven’t thought about that already… lol. Ugh it makes me so mad if I’m being honest! I resonated with every word and did a nice eye roll for you when you were told to reduce stress 🙄 like wow!!! You’re so brilliant! I didn’t think of this before. 🤣
Your therapist told you to reduce stress and that was itself a stressor. That's the whole article in one sentence, and you know it.
But here's the part you almost said and then pulled back from: you're not actually angry at the wellness industry. You're angry that it's aimed at you. Personally. As though the problem is located inside your body and the solution is more yoga. The breathwork isn't wrong. It's just pointed at the wrong target. You're regulating a nervous system that's responding correctly to an environment that never stops asking.
"More emotional tracking, more anticipating, more remembering, more smoothing over" - that's not dysregulation. That's a job description nobody applied for. The nervous system isn't broken. It's clocking overtime.
The most honest line you wrote is the last one. You keep doing it not because it heals you but because some days your body grips a little less. That's not a wellness journey. That's a woman negotiating terms with her own exhaustion. And the fact that you can name it that clearly means the grip already loosened more than you think.
Thank you for the thoughtful comments. You nailed so much of it this and certainly made me think more, especially about clocking overtime. I don’t know that I’m actually angry though, frustrated yes, but it’s more of an eye roll that I’ve been told the same thing so many times. I don’t need a wellness journey, I suppose maybe I just need a break—and more time to write.
this captures something people don’t say out loud enough!! that “regulation” is often treated like a personal failure instead of a structural one. The line about trying to calm a smoke detector while something is still burning... *claps*
Glad you enjoyed it!
I really resonated with your article. Box breathing actually increases my anxiety, so instead I focus on making my exhale longer than my inhale. I find this helps me feel calmer and more grounded.
You got this totally right! The things that are “supposed to work” seem to add more pressure and more things that we didn’t do right. Sometimes the reset for me is to just stop trying it all and just let it come. Stop fighting and making it worse, and just pass through the storm. It always clears and that keeps me going.
Ohhh this is a good one! Currently working on healing my nervous system. I literally can’t stand the “advice” we get from others as if we haven’t thought about that already… lol. Ugh it makes me so mad if I’m being honest! I resonated with every word and did a nice eye roll for you when you were told to reduce stress 🙄 like wow!!! You’re so brilliant! I didn’t think of this before. 🤣
Your therapist told you to reduce stress and that was itself a stressor. That's the whole article in one sentence, and you know it.
But here's the part you almost said and then pulled back from: you're not actually angry at the wellness industry. You're angry that it's aimed at you. Personally. As though the problem is located inside your body and the solution is more yoga. The breathwork isn't wrong. It's just pointed at the wrong target. You're regulating a nervous system that's responding correctly to an environment that never stops asking.
"More emotional tracking, more anticipating, more remembering, more smoothing over" - that's not dysregulation. That's a job description nobody applied for. The nervous system isn't broken. It's clocking overtime.
The most honest line you wrote is the last one. You keep doing it not because it heals you but because some days your body grips a little less. That's not a wellness journey. That's a woman negotiating terms with her own exhaustion. And the fact that you can name it that clearly means the grip already loosened more than you think.
Thank you for the thoughtful comments. You nailed so much of it this and certainly made me think more, especially about clocking overtime. I don’t know that I’m actually angry though, frustrated yes, but it’s more of an eye roll that I’ve been told the same thing so many times. I don’t need a wellness journey, I suppose maybe I just need a break—and more time to write.
Thank you for this very honest piece! It really made me laugh and it made me think. I’m in this with you!
Appreciate it!