Do you feel safe in your body?
“Being able to feel safe with other people is probably the single most important aspect of mental health; safe connections are fundamental to meaningful and satisfying lives.” Bessel Van Der Kolk “The Body Keeps The Score”
I was watching this show called “Feel Good” which has really opened my eyes to understand gender and identity which isn’t the point of this at all, but bear with me… so at one point in the show, Mary (the main character) runs to her childhood home and hides under the bed.
My head exploded with a rush of memories. How could I have blocked this out my whole adult life? I used to hide for HOURS under my bed when the energy in the house got too hectic or felt scary. I ran into the other room and asked my husband if he did this, too… I mean surely all kids do this right?
Actually NO. He did not. And he thought it was weird. And my kids don’t hide under their beds either.
But guess what… about half of the ladies I asked in my recovery yoga classes, did in fact, hide under their beds and about 1/3 more hid in their closets (something I do to this day!). One hid for so long under her bed that they called the police and reported her missing.
Lightbulb moment. Dysregulation leads to feelings of unsafety and the first time I drank or used pills I felt immediately safe and regulated. And I chased that feeling for decades until I ended up in rehab (twice).
Friends… if this is you… there is a better way! The more I teach yoga to traumatized populations the more I realize just how full of fear most people in treatment centers (and the world in general) are and at the core of it is a lack of safety.
So… this month the focus is on feeling freaking safe in your body, in your home, and in your life.
I hope you will join me in person or virtually for this month’s recovery yoga for mental health class where I will show you some of my favorite practices for safety and well being (no drugs required).