When storm fronts collide
“That mindfulness doesn’t work for me, my mind is too full already. I need mind-less-ness.”
Yes, sometimes life is just so overwhelming you want a way out. You want to stop the whole world and get off. It’s just too much. David Whyte, describes it as:
“the meeting of two immense storm fronts, the squally vulnerable edge between what overwhelms human beings from the inside and what overpowers them from the outside.”
You feel like you are having to run to keep up with your thoughts. They are insisting on a conversation that goes round and round and round whilst you compete in an extreme sports competition. You try to keep up because you don’t feel you have a choice, but you know your legs are going to give out any moment, and you will collapse.
Sometimes it’s not quite so extreme. You always ran on fumes, talked fast, been on the alert, perhaps you physically shake in most of what you do. You’ve maybe had two jobs so you can make finances spread further. You fill your evenings and weekends with things to do. A game of squash usually helps to bring calm, or a long walk in the woods. Then something, almost imperceptible comes along, and that way of being just doesn’t work. Something gives, perhaps you find work becomes stressful or you develop a physical illness, start with persistent pain orĀ simply you feel like your usual high energy approach just isn’t helpful any more. You crash and burn.
I understand that intensity of thought. That overwhelming state of fearful, high alert. I become disconnected from my body. I get lost in my thoughts. Worrying about what has happened, that I can’t change, or trying to control what happens, which I can’t actually predict. I just want to press the stop button.
I was forced to take stock when, in a short period of time, I got divorced, changed profession after a 3 year intensive course full of exams and practical tests, changed cities twice, my father died, followed by my dog, then my brother, then another relationship break down and several further moves. It was all too much. I woke up each morning, and for an instant everything was ok, till I remembered it wasn’t ok. Things would never be the same.
What to do?
Massively stressful situations might be doable in the short term, but when they go on and on it often means you have to take a good look at how you do things, assess your priorities, take stock. Decide what’s important and find some control in the chaos. I found myself in that place.
The Alexander Technique is something that can support you in such times. In an ideal world learn it, and put it into practice, before the storm fronts collide. However, when they do collide, because that seems to be a given in life, this technique can save your life. It has done with mine on several occasions.
Some form of support is often essential at these times from a variety of places: friends, family, professionals. Alexander Technique teachers can be part of that process. They can help you notice what happens to your body in times of stress. In times when you are sucked into an intensity of thought where you become disconnected from your body. They can help you notice your thought habits and find a way back to a calmer, more in control you. You can learn about non doing and begin to breath and smell the roses from the middle of the storm. You will learn a technique for life. It takes practice. It is highly likely you will come out a different person. I did, and continue to shed multiple layers like a butterfly that keeps turning into a pupae and back to a butterfly.
Try an introductory lesson? You may be surprised at the ease you discover with such simple processes.
Jane Clappison
01759 307282
Hi Jane….your blog speaks volumes to me. I too had lots of stress all at once, my health suffered, I burnt myself out, Alexander Technique was the only thing that worked for me – I continue to have lessons, always leaving having learnt something new about myself. It gets to the core of your being like nothing else I have ever experienced and changed me too as a person for the better over the last 20 years. I often listen to your Constructive Rest Guided Talk Through, thanks for taking the time to share, helping others on their journey.
Hi Karen, thank you very much for your comments. Great to know the constructive rest talk through is something you listen to. Best wishes, Jane