"I Can't Slow Down/ I Don't Do Anything - part 1

“I Can’t Slow Down/ I Don’t Do Anything - part 1
We sometimes hear clients say that they can’t settle down, that they are always tense, hurrying or rapidly thinking about things. Feeling jumpy, and under pressure are also frequent problems. Sometimes the problem can be traced back to something that happened in the past. Something that has put the person on “red alert.” This condition may last long after the event that caused the upset or fear in the first place is over. Recent examples can be found in some veterans who have returned from a war zone and still feel on edge. They may recognize that they are now safe in their homes but don’t feel very safe or calm.

In persons who have had traumatic experiences this can be the mind’s way of trying to cope with the experience by staying alert for any future threat or danger, an attempt to find safety.

One of the tasks of therapy is to help these people recognize these attempts to protect themselves because they are sometimes unrecognized. People think that they are just nervous, especially if they have been repeatedly told this by friends and family. Once a person has found the connection between their “red alert” lifestyle and its protective purpose, we can work on finding a sense of realistic safety. We can work on making changes to help protect from real threats and teach calming techniques to deal with threats that are not present any more. Yes, it’s a lot easier to describe than it is to do. Like most persistent problems it will take some sustained effort and much support and encouragement.

Bill Bonacker