I really relate to this post. I have had a not so good week but most of it is in my head. Filled with anxiety! I’ll just keep journaling and practicing yoga. 🙏🏻💜💜
Thank you for this post! I love the concept of the car park (or parkade as we call it in western Canada :P). In the past I have done something similar but with colourful stones. It's a practice I stopped a long time ago, but your post has reminded me of it. I am now planning to make a trip to the beach and collect a couple of worry stones that I can hold in my hand when I have an anxious moment. It helped me to 'place' the worry into the stone, and set it aside to deal with a different time.
I have been rolling this concept of the overly sensitive nervous system around for a while. Trying to figure out why and working every day to get it to calm down. So much work. I hope you feel less stressed soon!
Something I used at the dentist when I had treatments last year was a bite guard. I believe all dentists keep them to hand but it’s just a little mouth guard that goes on one side and stops you from closing your mouth. Sounds a bit like a torture device when put like that but for me it helps a lot. I have a hard time keeping my mouth open unless I constantly think about it and then I am hyper aware of everything going on, where as with the bite guard I can let my mind wander off and I am much calmer. Might not be something helpful for you but thought I would put that tip out there for anyone that might get use from it.
The beginning of this post looks very similar to the conversation I had with my husband this afternoon. Basically I get stressed very easily and about (seemingly) almost everything. I’ve been seeing some good progress lately as I’m coming out of burnout, and I feel like caring for my sensitive nervous system is going to be key in taking more steps forward.
I love this, Charlie. I'm definitely no stranger to worry and have also always known I was sensitive (even though I didn't understand why until very recently) and I think I might need to try out this idea of imagining parking my worries. Thank you so much for sharing!
I appreciate the list of worries, it’s nice to see into someone’s mind of worries. I can really relate to them, I’m wondering if in listing or naming the ‘cars’ it might park them! 🚙 🚗
I relate to your experience in the dentist. I use sensory tools to help. I said to my dentist about feeling nervous and they said “you might always feel that way and that’s okay but what matters is you are getting through it, you are getting the treatment”. I found it really helpful and reassuring to have my feelings acknowledged and validated.
from a fellow final dentist, i’m so glad you’re navigating your way through the stress fog that seems to be lurking your way in moments of uncertainty — and i surely hope the next dental appointment is better !!
I really relate to this post. I have had a not so good week but most of it is in my head. Filled with anxiety! I’ll just keep journaling and practicing yoga. 🙏🏻💜💜
Thank you for this post! I love the concept of the car park (or parkade as we call it in western Canada :P). In the past I have done something similar but with colourful stones. It's a practice I stopped a long time ago, but your post has reminded me of it. I am now planning to make a trip to the beach and collect a couple of worry stones that I can hold in my hand when I have an anxious moment. It helped me to 'place' the worry into the stone, and set it aside to deal with a different time.
I have been rolling this concept of the overly sensitive nervous system around for a while. Trying to figure out why and working every day to get it to calm down. So much work. I hope you feel less stressed soon!
Something I used at the dentist when I had treatments last year was a bite guard. I believe all dentists keep them to hand but it’s just a little mouth guard that goes on one side and stops you from closing your mouth. Sounds a bit like a torture device when put like that but for me it helps a lot. I have a hard time keeping my mouth open unless I constantly think about it and then I am hyper aware of everything going on, where as with the bite guard I can let my mind wander off and I am much calmer. Might not be something helpful for you but thought I would put that tip out there for anyone that might get use from it.
The beginning of this post looks very similar to the conversation I had with my husband this afternoon. Basically I get stressed very easily and about (seemingly) almost everything. I’ve been seeing some good progress lately as I’m coming out of burnout, and I feel like caring for my sensitive nervous system is going to be key in taking more steps forward.
I love this, Charlie. I'm definitely no stranger to worry and have also always known I was sensitive (even though I didn't understand why until very recently) and I think I might need to try out this idea of imagining parking my worries. Thank you so much for sharing!
I appreciate the list of worries, it’s nice to see into someone’s mind of worries. I can really relate to them, I’m wondering if in listing or naming the ‘cars’ it might park them! 🚙 🚗
The car park analogy is brilliant.
I just discovered your newsletter and it’s so cool. I love the parked cars tool, I’m going to use this!
I relate to your experience in the dentist. I use sensory tools to help. I said to my dentist about feeling nervous and they said “you might always feel that way and that’s okay but what matters is you are getting through it, you are getting the treatment”. I found it really helpful and reassuring to have my feelings acknowledged and validated.
from a fellow final dentist, i’m so glad you’re navigating your way through the stress fog that seems to be lurking your way in moments of uncertainty — and i surely hope the next dental appointment is better !!