Until I Can Breathe Again

I’ve been trying to find the words to express my thoughts and explain my feelings on my long-term breather. It’s difficult and it’s exhausting to even think putting my feelings into words. I happened to find them by one of my virtual favorites, Dr. Glenn Doyle.

“Sometimes we might have to push pause and take a break from people— even people who we like, and who like us.

It’s nothing personal— it has to do with our highly sensitive nervous system getting overstimulated. Overheated.

Sometimes we just need a breath. To get ourselves together.

Lots of people reading this are used to their nervous system being activated basically ALL the time.

Many people won’t understand the kind of toll even “normal” social interaction takes on you.

It doesn’t even matter if those social interactions aren’t particularly conflictual— just the fact that we need to be “on” for other people is what drains us.

The thing is, a lot of us ALSO have problems setting limits or taking time for ourselves.

We may desperately need some time and space— but have no practical idea how to make that happen.

You’re definitely not alone.

There is zero shame in needing to take some time to regroup. It doesn’t matter if anyone else thinks you “should” need that down time or not— you need what you need.

We’re not doing anyone around us any favors by redlining our nervous system all day, every day.

Push pause when you need to.

Regroup. Recenter.

Remember who you are and what you’re all about.

There’s a reason why they call it “recreation” — we’re literally re-creating our ability to function.”