S.O.S.: Stop, Orient, Scale.
- While you’re working on any type of assignment that requires you looking into the past and even so how the present is impacting you – Stop and check in every fifteen to thirty minutes with yourself. How are you doing, are you able to stay with the work, are you easily distracted, day dreaming, and as well, disassociating. STOP
- Orient using your senses: What do I see, hear, smell, and feel? Feel your feet on the floor; ground yourself. Bring yourself into the hear and now. Walk around, throw some cool water on your face to activate your vagus nerve. When you have vagus nerve dysfunction it weakens your bodies ability to “rest and digest.”
- On a Scale of one to ten, think of your worst experience as a ten and ask yourself, where am I now, in this moment, compared to my worst experience?
If you’re any where near a five and above, ask yourself, what needs to happen now to move towards a half digit or more lower? Do you need to call someone, make an appointment with a trusted counselor and share your story.
Do your check-ins regularly and notice where you started to drift off in your writing. This is essential to bring up to an accountability person in your life. You may have to slow the writing down to process what’s coming up for you as you think it through and memories show up.
Knowing ourselves is a lifetime journey.