To say life is stressful right now would be a gross understatement. Even with just ONE of the many major current events unfolding it would be a bit much. But there isn’t just one, it’s many.
I’ve noticed recently that everyone (ok almost everyone) seems to be living at an 11. What I mean is, if 10 is the breaking point, we’ve moved a tad beyond that.
It makes sense really. Our sense of safety has been threatened daily for almost 2 years. Our body was not made to sustain this level of constant stress!!
When we are living in such a difficult time we need tools that will be effective in the moment, not in a week or two (NOT saying stop practicing your other tools) but the immediacy is needed sometimes.
Deep Breathing
You knew it would be on the list! Deep breathing (like imagine your lower rib cage/back fully expanding) is one of the best ways of calming down a sympathetic response and returning to the parasympathetic. Especially if you focus on the exhale.
When you inhale, your sympathetic system is activated. Your heart rate increases as well as blood pressure. However, when you exhale you’re engaging your parasympathetic system and getting into rest and digest.
Try it: Place a hand on your heart and one on your belly. Take 3-5 slow breaths (at least), before returning to what you were doing.
Grounding
There are many techniques to ground yourself in the moment, but this is one of my favs. You can change the order of this if you’d like as well. Doing this exercise will help you to not focus on what was upsetting a moment before, but it will help you to be in touch with the world around you so you can think clearly again.
Try it: Observe the world around you. Find 5 things you see, 4 things you can touch, 3 things you hear, 2 things you smell and 1 thing you taste.
Get Outside/In nature
Bonus points for combining the above exercises while you’re outside. Being outside in nature has been scientifically proven to activate your parasympathetic system and reduce stress. The Japanese even have a fun term for it called “Forest Bathing” (my husband thought I was cray cray when I first said this to him).
Try it: Step outside for a few moments and listen to the world around you. Go for a walk in the woods if you’re able!
Move your body/Shake
This one I’m stealing from our pets. Did you know that animals have a way of moving stress energy through and out of their body? I bet you’ve seen it happen even. Have you ever seen a dog shake? Not when they’re wet, that’s different. But after running or a stressful moment? That’s because dogs, and other animals, instinctively know that shaking will move the energy out of their body.
This could also be why many people enjoy exercise when they’re stressed. They’re moving the energy through and out of their bodies.
Try it: If you’re able, do a light workout or shake your arms and legs when you’re stressed. I’ve been trying it lately, and it’s actually incredibly effective.
Play
Sure, it may sound super simple, but when was the last time you thought about playing as a response to stress? It’s definitely not one of the first things we think about doing as an adult, which is too bad. Play can bring us joy, which is kinda the opposite of stress, and much needed in our lives these days. It can also serve as a wonderful distraction from the world as well.
Try it: Play! With your kids, pets, friends.. Maybe a board game, or an obstacle course or water balloon fight.
The world may seem like a dumpster fire, wrapped up in a tornado, packaged inside a hurricane, but that doesn’t mean you need to feel it 24/7. In fact, you shouldn’t, at all.
If you find yourself more stressed than zen lately, try some of these activities out. See how they feel to you. Switch them around and change them if you need to. Make it yours. And enjoy yourself in the process.
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👉🏼Feeling stuck with your MS symptoms?
👉🏼Feeling like your body betrayed you and is working against you?
👉🏼Are you worried you’re stuck like this and will never get better?
I get it. At one point I did too.
Years ago I was experiencing “Aggressive MS” and I thought I’d never function the same.
I thought my days of moving how I wanted, or doing anything on a whim were over.
I couldn’t walk well, couldn’t feel my body correctly and I was SCARED.
But now?
I’m confident in the ways I’m helping myself.
I no longer have aggressive MS.
I can move how I want, when I want.
Because of the changes I’ve made over the years.
No, it’s not easy, but that’s where I come in!!
I’ve dedicated my life to helping those with MS realize that feeling better is possible and helping them get there.
My 2 courses and my membership are on sale this weekend for Black Friday,
want to start your own success story??
Comment SUCCESS below and I’ll send you the link!!
👉🏼Feeling stuck with your MS symptoms?
👉🏼Feeling like your body betrayed you and is working against you?
👉🏼Are you worried you’re stuck like this and will never get better?
I get it. At one point I did too.
Years ago I was experiencing “Aggressive MS” and I thought I’d never function the same.
I thought my days of moving how I wanted, or doing anything on a whim were over.
I couldn’t walk well, couldn’t feel my body correctly and I was SCARED.
But now?
I’m confident in the ways I’m helping myself.
I no longer have aggressive MS.
I can move how I want, when I want.
Because of the changes I’ve made over the years.
No, it’s not easy, but that’s where I come in!!
I’ve dedicated my life to helping those with MS realize that feeling better is possible and helping them get there.
My 2 courses and my membership are on sale this weekend for Black Friday,
want to start your own success story??
Comment SUCCESS below and I’ll send you the link!!
Grab your path to healing!!
These are the lowest prices for my courses like ever, and they won’t be back. (And they’ll prob be going up in the new year- planning some updates!!)
Comment HEALING below and I’ll send you a link, or check out my stories!!
Grab your path to healing!!
These are the lowest prices for my courses like ever, and they won’t be back. (And they’ll prob be going up in the new year- planning some updates!!)
Comment HEALING below and I’ll send you a link, or check out my stories!!
The first step to being successful with managing stress (& being successful with anything really) is:
Awareness of where you currently are.
You can’t change or manage what you’re not aware of.
You can only know yourself as deep as you’re awareness of yourself goes.
Try this:
Right now as you read this, pause for a sec.
Take a deep breath, and ask yourself:
Where were my thoughts?
Where is my breathing?
What am I saying to myself?
Get really honest here too (warning- it might be uncomfy)
What did you discover while checking in? Let me know in the comments!
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If we haven’t met yet, Hi! 👋🏼👋🏼 I’m Alissa. I’m a Holistic Practitioner & Therapist specializing in MS.
I use all the tools I’ve comprised over my 10+ year career (and 14+ years with MS) to help my clients with MS decrease their symptoms, improve their overall health and get back to living life on their terms, not MS’ terms.
Interested to hear how that might look for you? Comment 🧡 below or DM me and we’ll chat!
The first step to being successful with managing stress (& being successful with anything really) is:
Awareness of where you currently are.
You can’t change or manage what you’re not aware of.
You can only know yourself as deep as you’re awareness of yourself goes.
Try this:
Right now as you read this, pause for a sec.
Take a deep breath, and ask yourself:
Where were my thoughts?
Where is my breathing?
What am I saying to myself?
Get really honest here too (warning- it might be uncomfy)
What did you discover while checking in? Let me know in the comments!
-
-
If we haven’t met yet, Hi! 👋🏼👋🏼 I’m Alissa. I’m a Holistic Practitioner & Therapist specializing in MS.
I use all the tools I’ve comprised over my 10+ year career (and 14+ years with MS) to help my clients with MS decrease their symptoms, improve their overall health and get back to living life on their terms, not MS’ terms.
Interested to hear how that might look for you? Comment 🧡 below or DM me and we’ll chat!
Progress is absolutely not linear.
But, it’s still progress nonetheless.
I see you if you’re in a “dip” or feel like you’re going “backwards”
You’re really not, you’re right where you should be.
Keep going!!
🧡❤️🧡
Progress is absolutely not linear.
But, it’s still progress nonetheless.
I see you if you’re in a “dip” or feel like you’re going “backwards”
You’re really not, you’re right where you should be.
Keep going!!
🧡❤️🧡
Lol, all this got me was an MS diagnosis.
This was me basically my whole life up until a few years ago.
My clients have all talked about situations like this too.
It’s no wonder why a lot of us have an autoimmune disease now.
Please, speak your truth. Your body will thank you.
If we haven’t met yet, Hi! 👋🏼👋🏼 I’m Alissa.
I’m a Holistic Practitioner & Therapist specializing in MS.
I use all the tools I’ve comprised over my 10+ year career (and 14+ years with MS) to help my clients with MS decrease their symptoms, improve their overall health and get back to living life on their terms, not MS’ terms.
Interested to hear how that might look for you? Comment 🧡 below or DM me and we’ll chat!
Lol, all this got me was an MS diagnosis.
This was me basically my whole life up until a few years ago.
My clients have all talked about situations like this too.
It’s no wonder why a lot of us have an autoimmune disease now.
Please, speak your truth. Your body will thank you.
If we haven’t met yet, Hi! 👋🏼👋🏼 I’m Alissa.
I’m a Holistic Practitioner & Therapist specializing in MS.
I use all the tools I’ve comprised over my 10+ year career (and 14+ years with MS) to help my clients with MS decrease their symptoms, improve their overall health and get back to living life on their terms, not MS’ terms.
Interested to hear how that might look for you? Comment 🧡 below or DM me and we’ll chat!
This has been a TOUGH week friends.
Don’t lose yourself.
What else would you add to this list?
What helps you when life is super hard?
❤️❤️
This has been a TOUGH week friends.
Don’t lose yourself.
What else would you add to this list?
What helps you when life is super hard?
❤️❤️
I’ve been actively working on my nervous system for the past year or two.
That hasn’t meant that all my anxiety or depression magically vanished.
It just means that when I do find myself feeling like an anxious mess or a depressed puddle, I know how to attend to and care for myself.
Not in the goal of “fixing” per se, more honoring and accepting.
This is one of the ways I help my clients improve their MS symptoms, but attending to their nervous systems and improving their stress response and resilience.
I have so many ways to work with me.. from 1:1 support to my free community.. comment below “interested” and we’ll chat about what would be right for you!
I’ve been actively working on my nervous system for the past year or two.
That hasn’t meant that all my anxiety or depression magically vanished.
It just means that when I do find myself feeling like an anxious mess or a depressed puddle, I know how to attend to and care for myself.
Not in the goal of “fixing” per se, more honoring and accepting.
This is one of the ways I help my clients improve their MS symptoms, but attending to their nervous systems and improving their stress response and resilience.
I have so many ways to work with me.. from 1:1 support to my free community.. comment below “interested” and we’ll chat about what would be right for you!
This is exactly why I do what I do.
Because when I was suffering and going through it, I had no one.
No one in my corner who fully understood.
Sure I had some people around me who cared.. but that’s different than understanding and being supportive.
I don’t want that for you.
I want you to feel confident,
in control of your life,
like you have someone in your corner who understands on a completely different level than those around you.
This is why I do what I do.
Because I don’t want you to feel alone.
PS- My second book is available for pre-order!!
This is a book that I would have loved to read early on in my journey.
I teamed up with 6 other authors to detail how we moved through our diagnosis and came out the other side for the better.
(Also, 5 of the 7 authors also have MS!!)
If you pre order your copy through me before October 24th you’ll also get:
• Signed copy of Resilience Redefined
• The MS Handbook E-book
• Resilience Bookmark
• LissMS Sticker Pack
Comment “book” below and I’ll send you the link!!
This is exactly why I do what I do.
Because when I was suffering and going through it, I had no one.
No one in my corner who fully understood.
Sure I had some people around me who cared.. but that’s different than understanding and being supportive.
I don’t want that for you.
I want you to feel confident,
in control of your life,
like you have someone in your corner who understands on a completely different level than those around you.
This is why I do what I do.
Because I don’t want you to feel alone.
PS- My second book is available for pre-order!!
This is a book that I would have loved to read early on in my journey.
I teamed up with 6 other authors to detail how we moved through our diagnosis and came out the other side for the better.
(Also, 5 of the 7 authors also have MS!!)
If you pre order your copy through me before October 24th you’ll also get:
• Signed copy of Resilience Redefined
• The MS Handbook E-book
• Resilience Bookmark
• LissMS Sticker Pack
Comment “book” below and I’ll send you the link!!
When this is a new habit.. it’s HARD!!
We encounter so many messages that say DONT take time for you, prioritize others, you must.
So.. what stands in your way of prioritizing you?
What is your hesitation when you go take a minute for yourself?
What is the guilt you feel after you actually do?
I’m planning something in a few weeks to help you with just these things.. stay tuned…
When this is a new habit.. it’s HARD!!
We encounter so many messages that say DONT take time for you, prioritize others, you must.
So.. what stands in your way of prioritizing you?
What is your hesitation when you go take a minute for yourself?
What is the guilt you feel after you actually do?
I’m planning something in a few weeks to help you with just these things.. stay tuned…
I’ve found that most all of my clients (and my past self too) would say NOPE, at least at first.
There are so many reasons we don’t value our own needs as much as others, but this is something that def has to be addressed if we want to continue to make progress with improving our health.
You matter.
Remember that.
🧡❤️
I’ve found that most all of my clients (and my past self too) would say NOPE, at least at first.
There are so many reasons we don’t value our own needs as much as others, but this is something that def has to be addressed if we want to continue to make progress with improving our health.
You matter.
Remember that.
🧡❤️
This is what came through during my meditation this morning.
I’ve been feeling so BEHIND lately..
That I’m not doing enough..
That progress isn’t happening fast enough..
But that’s a lie.
I’m right where I should be.
I needed this message today… maybe you do too?
This is what came through during my meditation this morning.
I’ve been feeling so BEHIND lately..
That I’m not doing enough..
That progress isn’t happening fast enough..
But that’s a lie.
I’m right where I should be.
I needed this message today… maybe you do too?
This is how I slowly helped myself the most:
Making small changes to my life,
* Intentional awareness to my morning
* Noticing when I’m being mean to myself
* Noticing when I’m reactive or in a state of fight or flight..
Some “small” ideas for you too:
* don’t grab your phone first thing in the morning, take some deep breaths, think about how you want your day to go
* drink an extra glass of water (bonus if it’s in the morning too)
* get up and move every hour
* say something nice to yourself when you catch yourself being mean
* step outside for a few minutes a few times a day
Small changes add up to big steps forward,
don’t get fooled by these not being “enough”,
they absolutely are.
Wanna hear more about how Ive helped myself and my clients to lessen our MS symptoms so we feel better in our bodies?
I detail it in my chapter in Resilience Redefined.. comment “Book” and I’ll send you the link!!
This is how I slowly helped myself the most:
Making small changes to my life,
* Intentional awareness to my morning
* Noticing when I’m being mean to myself
* Noticing when I’m reactive or in a state of fight or flight..
Some “small” ideas for you too:
* don’t grab your phone first thing in the morning, take some deep breaths, think about how you want your day to go
* drink an extra glass of water (bonus if it’s in the morning too)
* get up and move every hour
* say something nice to yourself when you catch yourself being mean
* step outside for a few minutes a few times a day
Small changes add up to big steps forward,
don’t get fooled by these not being “enough”,
they absolutely are.
Wanna hear more about how Ive helped myself and my clients to lessen our MS symptoms so we feel better in our bodies?
I detail it in my chapter in Resilience Redefined.. comment “Book” and I’ll send you the link!!
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