In the complex tapestry of human behavior, the ways in which individuals respond to trauma can be profound and varied. One such response, often overlooked but significant, is the fawning response. This coping mechanism is closely tied to a strong inclination towards people-pleasing and a deep-seated need for approval. Let's delve into how the fawning response can be linked to trauma and how the practice of Yin Yoga can offer solace and aid in the healing process.
Trauma is an all-encompassing experience that can have a profound impact on a person's mental, emotional, and physical well-being. The journey to healing from trauma is not a linear process; it's more like a winding road with various stages and milestones. Understanding these stages can be instrumental in providing insight, hope, and guidance to those on the path to recovery. Together, let us explore the stages of trauma healing, shedding light on what to expect and how to navigate each step of the way.
Healing from trauma is a complex journey that involves not only the individual survivor but also the support of others. Among the many elements that contribute to successful trauma recovery, co-regulation stands out as a pivotal mechanism.
Co-regulation refers to the mutual interaction between individuals that helps regulate emotions, create a sense of safety, and facilitate healing. In the context of trauma, co-regulation can be a lifeline for survivors seeking to rebuild their lives.
In the face of danger or distressing situations, our bodies and minds activate various survival mechanisms to protect us from harm.
These responses, often referred to as trauma responses, are deeply ingrained in our evolutionary biology. The four primary trauma responses are Fight, Flight, Freeze, and Fawn. From here onward, we’ll refer to them as the 4Fs. Understanding these responses can help us comprehend how individuals cope with traumatic experiences and how we can support them in their healing journey.
Everything and anything we do in this world takes energy. That includes our effort to suppress difficult emotions. When we can't release overwhelming emotions, we utilize our vital energy (Qi) through the excessive release of the hormone cortisol to contain them inwardly. Overtime, we exhaust our adrenal function and reach for energy boosting drinks like coffee to help sustain our day-to-day lives.
Here we will delve into the detrimental effects of suppressing emotions and its potential link to coffee addiction. Understanding this cycle can empower us to support ourselves and loved ones to break free from these damaging patterns and fostering true emotional well-being.
The yin yoga and healing world often uses language like "release" and "letting go," but it's crucial to take a step back to examine whether our obsession with releasing in yin yoga is indeed serving us.
When language becomes a habit, it's essential to pause and reflect on its implications. According to the Oxford Dictionary, it defines "release" as "allowing or enabling to escape from confinement; setting free." However, before focusing on releasing tension, we must understand the reasons behind its presence – why do we feel tense in the first place?
According to the Daoist view, our organs possess different prenatal virtues, qualities that are endowed to our human form from the divine. As we come into the world, we begin to accumulate emotions that would conflict with our prenatal state.
The prenatal virtues of the Liver are love, compassion, benevolence, patience, and unselfishness. After birth, the acquired Liver emotions are frustration, irritability, stubbornness, anger, blame, rage, resentment, rudeness, impatience, jealousy, and depression.
The Spleen meridian represents the Earth element. Its prenatal virtues include faith, honesty, openness, acceptance, and truthfulness. Interestingly, according to the Daoist view, our intention and ideas (known as Yi) are stored in the spleen. The postnatal emotions associated with the Spleen include worrying, remorse, regret, obsessiveness, self-doubt, self-centeredness, and suspicion.
In Traditional Chinese Medicine, the Heart is considered the most chief of the internal organs of the body. It controls blood circulation and governs all of the viscera and bowels. The Heart is corresponded to the Fire element and it is sometimes known as the “Red Emperor.” It is energetically paired with the Small Intestine, which is in charge of filtering the pure and clean energy from the impure Qi.
Have you ever felt like crying for no reasons at all? It's as if the world is painted in different shades of grey and nothing is worthy of a glint of happiness. Well, in Western medicine, they would label it as depression and you would go home with a bunch of antidepressant pills. Interestingly, in Chinese medicine, sadness and grief are associated with the Lung meridian. The good news is there are ways to remove sadness without the pills. Read on and see how yin yoga can stop your uncontrollable crying episodes.
The agent of the water element, the Kidneys represent the prenatal virtues of rationality, clear perception, self-understanding, self-confidence, and wisdom. After birth, the Kidneys store the acquired emotions of fear, paranoia, terror, panic, horror, loneliness, and insecurity. Eliminating excess fear allows the congenital virtue of wisdom to prosper.
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