Talking With Dr. Toy: The Avoidance Trap--Avoidance Strategies
Release Date: 06/24/2024
Talking With Dr. Toy Navigating Emotional Numbness
Talking With Dr Toy
Emotional numbness is a freeze response in that an individual's brain shuts down as a protective response to keep them safe when the nervous system is overloaded. Emotional numbness is helpful for awhile, but there may be consequences if it persists long-term. There are several ways to navigate emotional numbness such as mindfulness strategies, body awareness, and engaging the five senses.
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Talking With Dr. Toy: Navigating Survivor Mode--Emotional Numbness...
Talking With Dr Toy
Survivor mode has been described as "An informal term to describe when a person is affected by a prolonged stress response." It is a protective mechanism the body employs to protect you from danger (fight/flight/freeze/fawn). There are many characteristics of survival mode such as difficulty focusing, inability to rest, and emotional numbness. Emotional numbness "refers to a state of reduced or absent emotional responsiveness, where a person feels detached from their own emotions and the world around them." www.talkingwithdrtoy.com
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Talking With Dr. Toy Filling Your Cup While Anchoring
Talking With Dr Toy
Now that you're anchoring it is time to take it up a level by finding ways to fill your cup. Many are searching for ways to find meaning in this current world where the unknown is very prevalent. One way to cultivate meaning is to take care of your inner world. What are you doing to settle and nurture your inner being? Dr. Bryant mentions taking sacred pauses and that may be the beginning of a journey of exploration of cultivating joy, peace, calmness, and play within your inner being. www.talkingwithdrtoy.com
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Talking With Dr. Toy: The Practice of Anchoring
Talking With Dr Toy
Anchoring is a practice that assist with developing psychological flexibility and if there ever was a time to anchor, it surely is now. So many have expressed experiencing worry, anxiety, grief, and fear and do not know what to do to process and manage these emotions. There is not a cure all for what ills society, but there are somethings that may help in navigating some of the turbulence. One such practice is called the Anchoring Heart Technique. This technique includes 3 steps: "1. Anchor your hand(s) firmly and tenderly on your heart & breath deeply. 2. Feel what you are not wanting to...
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Talking With Dr. Toy: In Times Like These We Need to Anchor
Talking With Dr Toy
Anchoring is a coping strategy to increase psychological flexibility. Anchoring entails a strategy known as ACE. Acknowledge thoughts, feelings, and bodily sensations, Come back to your body, and Engage in what you're doing. When we think about a ship that is tossed back and forth by the waves and the storms, sometimes, especially during times like these, our lives may resemble these battered ships. However, no matter how high the waves and fierce the storms, anchoring provides steadiness. Anchoring does not prevent or calm the storm, but it can hold you in place until the storm passes. ...
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Talking With Dr. Toy: I Am Because We Are...
Talking With Dr Toy
Ubuntu is an ancient African word that means I am because you are. It embraces the idea that humans cannot exist in isolation. It denotes acknowledging the humanity within ourselves and within others. Robb asks two powerful questions concerning this concept: "What if what you want to be will only come about when you ensure that others get to be that as well? And what if all of humanity was on your team, working toward your good?” I believe these questions capture the meaning and significance of celebrating Black History. www.talkingwithdrtoy.com
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Talking With Dr. Toy: Psychological Flexibility During Times of Adversity
Talking With Dr Toy
Psychological flexibility is beneficial during times of adversity because when things seem out of control, experiencing, monitoring, and managing our reactions may be challenging but not impossible. It's easy and normal to become overwhelmed in times like these so stay attuned to how your system is responding. Psychological flexibility entails being mindful and taking care of your well-being which includes but is not limited to accepting and managing difficult emotions, handling setbacks, and finding meaning and purpose in the midst of life's circumstances. Please take care of...
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Talking With Dr. Toy: Let Not Your Heart Be Trouble...But It Is!
Talking With Dr Toy
Let not your heart be trouble maybe a difficult pill to swallow in times like these. Some have expressed experiencing fear and anxiety, while others have opted to avoid or even deny some of the realities taking place in their lives. The question becomes, how do we navigate and manage difficult times, so they do not manage or overwhelm us? According to Goldman, psychological flexibility entails three components: Being present, openness, and acceptance. www.talkingwithdrtoy.com
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Talking With Dr. Toy: Blessed Are The Flexible...
Talking With Dr Toy
Goldman defines psychological flexibility as "staying in the present moment and being open to experiencing whatever thoughts or feelings may arise, and then take action that is aligned with our values." There are many demands placed on individuals' lives and learning ways to navigate such situations can induce stress and anxiety. Psychological flexibility allows individuals to adapt and react to life's changes and transitions in healthy and helpful ways that enhances their well-being.
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Talking With Dr. Toy: Why Despise Small Beginnings?
Talking With Dr Toy
Happy New Year! Each New Year brings a sense of hope, expectation, dread, fear, and even anxiety. In our efforts to cope with these various emotions, we may create resolutions and intentions as an insurance policy for the upcoming year. We may construct grand intentions often neglecting and negating the small beginnings to obtain our goals. We may adopt the mentality that big is always better and small is insignificant. However, small beginnings can be just as important, valuable, and meaningful. www.talkingwithdrtoy.com
info_outlineAvoidance is a short-term coping strategy that induces a cycle of increasing anxiety symptoms rather than reducing them. It is normal to avoid uncomfortable thoughts, emotions, and sensations, but there is a cost. As someone stated, "Short-term gain, but long-term loss." There are certain strategies that inform the avoidance trap such as distraction, denial, projection, and safety behaviors such as withdrawing from people, places, and situations. These tools work which is why they are widely used, but they also serve as a double edge sword for long-term healing and restoration. www.talkingwithdrtoy.com