When You Are In A Quick Sand, Don’t Struggle, Get Help. If not, the quicksand will pull you down faster. This is the same when you are in a state of depression or chronic confusion resulting from psychological distress. The cycle of worry starts to ensnare you and pulls you down in your thoughts (cyclic thought process) and self-harm.
Have you ever tried to think a way out of your problem only to find the problem and the worry growing out of control? Has this ever happened to you?
The Fish can sense a lot of “yes”. Maybe it also happened it his life too. So, what do you do when you fall into quicksand ? Here are a few points that I wish to share. Consider this your exit strategy.
1. Be easy on yourself. I find that I heal and recuperate faster when I am in an environment of support and less harm. The contrary is also true. When I try to help myself but stay alone or in a negative environment, it mostly backfires, making me feel more helpless. It does not help if you are consistently harmed or hurt. A broken heart is as painful as a broken bone. The only different is that it is less conspicuous. Thus it is essential to seek help and support in times of distress, and to stay away from negative surroundings. A quick example would be to share the pain with your best friend, and seek some constant support, a pat of the back regularly.
2. Actions are more sound than thoughts.
In his book, Rewire your Brain, the author John Arden mentions that taking action helps tame the Amygdala, the culprit which is responsible for false alarms and anxiety attacks. Taking action is also necessary to break the cycle of worry which would otherwise fogs your consciousness. This action could be anything, but it is really helpful if you chose an activity that you love. Like drawing something, or writing. You don’t have to be an artist or a great writer, of course. The author also recommends mindful breathing in times of anxiety. For example, try to inhale for 5 seconds, hold the breath for another 5 seconds, and exhale slowly for the next 5 seconds.
He says ” Most people breathe nine to sixteen breaths per minute at rest. Panic attacks often involve as many as twenty – seven breaths per
minute.”
It is astonishing how a simple breathing pattern change helps invoke the Parasympathetic nervous system thereby reducing the impact of a panic attack, or uncontrollable anxiety. Its definitely worth a try!
3. Keep small, move fast: Your life isn’t a puzzle to be solved, but something to be experienced. When one is struck with a sense of purposelessness, it is so common to drown in your own though process, self analysis, planning and worry. It is far better to spend the seconds and minutes doing something and building a sense of meaningfulness to your life, than thinking or planning it for hours.
Stay small, keep a simple life, move faster. Don’t expect too much from yourself. Smaller but consistent actions in a proper direction would help you the most.
4. Keep a journal: It helps to keep a journal to record what helps and hinders this process of rejuvenation. This helps note down the emotional up and downs, and the situations which are acting as road blocks. Make sure you also write about the possible suggestions that your grownup self can give to this child in you.
When life plans don’t turn out too well, and your situation is growing dark, use this exit strategy! I hope it helps.
There is no universal recipe, so feel free to add or make changes to this list. But more importantly, do share your suggestions so that I can update this list.
Thanks for reading.
NOTE: Do share your thoughts. I’ll be posting the next blog soon. Meanwhile, I would be very happy if you can subscribe to this blog, or stay connected on our facebook page here >THE FISH.
A Lonely Fish BLog 