One thing is for certain – self care will be more critical than ever during the days ahead to maintain fortitude and stay grounded. For more structured guidance and a self-care survival toolkit, join me, sign up for her 6-week 2017 Radical Self Care (https://radicalselfcare.leadpages.co/radical-self-care-6-week-series/) program beginning January 5th.
For the past month I’ve seen numerous patients and loved ones struggle to cope with shock, stress and grief. Many have experienced reactivated PTSD as current events trigger past traumas and even generational trauma. In one way or another many are processing a collective experience of shock, or susto. In traditional Latin American cultures susto is described as a ‘spirit attack,’ the shamanic concept of ‘soul loss’ following an acute shock. Susto is a variant of PTSD with chronic somatic and nervous complaints following a stressor. Some of these symptoms include:
- Nervousness
- Anxiety
- Insomnia
- Digestive complaints
- Loss of appetite
- Increased susceptibility to illness
While much has been said about the need to maintain vigilance, be pro-active, to not become complacent in the face of threats to democracy and social justice, it is imperative that we tend to ourselves and each other to maintain resilience for the long haul. Hypervigilance puts a tremendous strain on the nervous system…
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High Voltage Health 