Thank you to Holly-Ann for this activity suggestion
This activity supports our emotional need for Security ( pleases see our Suffolk Needs Met blog for further explanation).
Why do I worry? It is very natural to have worries because they are what determine our safety. For example if you worry about your cared for, thoughts may include things like; ‘are they going to be okay’, what happens if their condition worsens’, ‘what if I won’t be able to help them when they are in need’. Your senses will send an alert to the limbic part of your brain, the part of your brain where it regulates your emotions, and encourages you to react to the worry. If you have had a fairly good day with no stress factors (meaning you remain within your window of tolerance see link below) you may find that you can deal with these worries better.
What can help me? You may have been able to:
– Ignore it and reassure yourself it is just a thought
– Tell someone about your worry
– Write down your worry
– Express your worry in a creative form such as drawing, listening to music, baking etc
If you have felt like a million and one things have stressed you out recently you may feel a build up to step outside your window of tolerance, either entering fight or flight or complete withdrawal from anything. It can often feel like we don’t have a sense of control over our emotions but we do have control how we react to certain worries before the build-up. If you have felt like things have gotten a little too much lately why not try some of the above options, make an emergency sensory box when you feel your senses are on overload, or use the links below from other sources to help you manage your feelings during this time.
We know nothing can make your worries go away, but we do know that eventually if you consistently tell yourself things are going to be okay and do your best to maintain a balanced lifestyle – you will give yourself a better fighting chance.
Watch this video by the BBC which encourages you to ‘schedule your worries’: https://www.bbc.co.uk/ideas/videos/how-to-manage-your-worries/p03rwr72
Window of tolerance link: https://youtu.be/vYab1q5N9-U
