11 Ways to Ease Emotional Trauma

I received some news this weekend that put me in the trauma zone. No one died or is sick, my health is good, I have a job. I just got some upsetting, disappointing news. A part of my life is not quite what it seemed and it’s thrown me for a major-ish emotional loop. Not to be vague, but the details don’t really matter. What matters is the remarkable thing I noticed when the wave hit–I did not fall apart. Don’t get me wrong, there was some kitchen-floor-based sobbing, but eventually I picked myself up and… made toast and tea. And then I did some exercise. And then talked to a friend. So boring, so lucid, so… kind. Wait, who am I and what have I done with my self?

Much of the time I’m on my case about what I’m not doing enough of or well enough or whatever, so I’m always blown away by the self-mothering instinct that kicks in when it matters. The surprising and not-so-familiar gestures and thoughts of gentle self-compassion–as if I was caring for a friend in the same situation. So I share a little list with you of some things I did and some things I can see doing to self-nurture in the midst of the storm.