When the house is on fire…
When the house is on fire, an immediate response is required.Taking time to deliberate choices wastes valuable time that might safe lives and valuable property. Our bodies produce hormones that energize emergency actions and our thoughts focus on survival. The high alert “fight or flight” response provides the ability to react at once to resolve urgent predicaments. But what happens if you wake up every morning to a burning house? Eventually the accumulation of constant bodily alertness leads to physical and emotional break down. Our bodies and our minds need periods of calm to restore optimal functioning.
Presently many of us are waking up every morning to a new government crises. Will healthcare be cut? Will important medical research cease? Will my family be able to eat or afford safe housing? Will I lose my job or my source of income? Will I be deported or arrested without the ability to defend myself? The list continues to grow. Answers vary on a daily basis but nothing seems secure. The house continues to burn on a daily basis without a way to immediately put out the fire! As a result many fall into “burnout” mode....which results in physical and emotional exhaustion eventually leading to withdrawal and giving up.
Whether intentional or not these constant threats become demoralizing and lead to feelings of hopelessness. Who can fight the government? Are my phone calls making a difference? Do my protests have any impact? Will it matter if I vote in the next election? Is there anything that can really be done to save our republic or are we just doomed at this point? In other words, why try?
Even the most seasoned firefighters lose the ability to optimally function without periods of recharging. People who regularly work in crises situations know the importance of self-care in order to renew energy and allow their bodies and minds to recover. The only way to be able to cope with situations that involve high demands is to space exposure and engage in healthful behaviors on a regular basis. As a retired psychologist and as a mother of a son who has recovered from schizophrenia, I know first hand how essential reducing the “fight or flight” response can be.
Finding calming activities to reduce the impact of perceived threats is most likely unique to each person. But it is absolutely necessary for each of us to find ways to take care of ourselves. Personally, I engage in multiple activities to counter constant stress. Soothing activies for me include reading, doing yoga, gardening, hiking and camping, cooking, listening to music, watching something on television other than news, and spending time with family and friends. The list is most likely longer but the point is all of these activities allow a clear break from the constant bombardment of politcal upheaval that is taking place right now.
We all need to find ways to take a personal break and renew our energy. What would happen if all of those who oppose the changes going in our government burned out, lost energy, and gave up? Is this truly what we want to happen? Giving up would be easy, but perhaps the long term consequences would be more than we really want to imagine. Finding ways to space activism and take care of both our bodies and our minds empowers us to continue fight for change. Find your own path to self-renewal, but please, don't burn out!