Why do I still get triggered?
You don’t get to control what triggers you.:-( The brain and body have a complex web of systems that are designed to protect you unconsciously. So things that are perceived as threats (whether it’s a person’s reaction or a post on IG) set off a cascade of signals to prepare your body for defense. Those may result in a physical reaction like panic or a cascade of addiction thoughts (that you thought you were over:-().
Why is mindful eating so hard?
Food may be a traumatic trigger. Smells, tastes, sensations, etc.. may trigger thoughts or memories of a time we felt threatened. It may be directly related to the food, such as something that made us sick. OR it may be related to another incident that happened while we happened to be tasting or smelling a similar food. In response, our body sends off a cascade of alarms that trigger our body to self-protect. We might panic or drift off into distraction or thoughts that our mind brings up because it is trying to keep us safe.
And unfortunately, that's only one reason that mindful eating is hard…
Let’s Talk About The Word “Accommodation”
Working from home has spared me the humiliation of asking for/explaining an accommodation. I’m grateful for all of my disability-related accommodations. I teach teachers to “accommodate” students...& something inside me dies every time I say the word..
Movement is about Protection (#5 of “x”)
Historically, movement kept us alive. It allowed us to fight or flee from danger. Movement was about protecting ourselves from danger. Sadly, for many of us...moving or not moving is a way of protecting ourselves from the ridicule of others.
Movement Is About Connection (#4 of “x”)
From the moment a baby learns to move it’s head, it gains the ability to establish connection with others. Sadly so much of our fitness culture has turned movement into a practice of shame and isolation...a practice of preparing ourselves to be presentable to others. But biologically, movement has the opposite purpose.
Learning to Befriend Your Body (#3 of “x”)
As a competitive athlete, I learned that my body was a barrier to athletic success. I learned that my mind could visualize the success, I just needed to whip my body into shape so that it would obey.
Will My Body Just Tell Me When It Needs To Move? (#2 of “x”)
As a competitive athlete, I learned that my body was a barrier to athletic success. I learned that my mind could visualize the success, I just needed to whip my body into shape so that it would obey.
Reclaiming Your Relationship With Movement (#1 of ”x”)
Movement in our society is often labeled by the word “exercise”, where success is often measured in numbers or aesthetics. Stepping away from that definition and moving toward reclaiming a relationship that works for you and your body is exciting… and an incredibly difficult journey. As we move through this series of blogs, we’ll look at the roles that movement serves. we’ll explore our bodies needs, and what it means to listen and provide for our body.
Why do I feel like crap in recovery?
There’s this promised idea that makes you feel better.. “You’ll be happier”, “you’ll have better relationships”, “you’ll have more energy”,... and instead you feel... depressed, tired, lethargic, on edge, just not yourself... Is all this hard work worth it to feel this bad?!? Maybe a voice inside wonders if you would feel better in your addiction/eating disorder..
It’s not in your head! here’s the neurochemistry on why you feel down and off-balance when letting go of an addiction/eating disorder behaviors... and how your brain will eventually change!
Why are photos so triggering?!?
You had a fun time last night...then someone posted a photo on social media. You think "I look so {fat, ugly, etc…. Fill in adjective here}. "Why did they not tell me I looked that bad?" "Why did anyone hang out with me at all?" You are crushed! You can't get it out of your head. You thought you had such a great time but now you feel a desperate need to change your appearance. Why are you this triggered?
Why I teach Zumba
No one would ever mistake me for a good dancer. People ask me to dance so they can laugh at me.. and I do it.. because laughter is a gift you can give to others:-). The last time I danced on a stage, I was 12 or 13, and I‘m sure I spent every minute hating my body’s size and lack of coordination.
