I’ve been hypersensitive this month.
I’m used to being sensitive and I’ve come to appreciate it as a super power. But this hypersensitivity is a little much.
Everything is heightened, and everything is magnified. I’ve even noticed myself going down some old and unhealthy anxiety inducing thought patterns.
I’m waking up in the middle of the night worried about the house burning down and people breaking in. I had the window in my bedroom open and the smell of smoke came in. I immediately jumped to thinking someone was in my house smoking.
These are the same thought patterns that used to have me shaking and crying in the corner and afraid to be alone 20 years ago.
The good news is that I have a whole toolbox full of ways to help me notice these thoughts and pull myself out before they completely take over my life and nervous system.
The 2 best tools I have are to not believe everything I think, and to trust myself to handle whatever situation comes my way.
It’s not easy to not believe your thoughts. You think the same ones over and over automatically without even noticing they are on repeat. The best way to catch them is to notice how you are feeling. If you don’t like it, then your thinking is causing it. Taking a moment to observe your thoughts can save a lot of suffering.
But in the back of your mind you will probably notice a voice that wants to hang on to those thoughts in case you are right. What if there really was someone smoking in my house in the middle of the night?
That is where trusting yourself comes in. You have to trust yourself enough to know that no matter what happens you will handle it. You are capable of the most extraordinary things, and you will figure out what to do when you are faced with it.
Those 2 tools will help you when things get rough, all you have to do is remember to use them.