"Surfing emotions" as a trauma survivor
I grew up in survival mode, so I learned to stay busy and productive as a way to avoid feeling too much. But now that I have gone on a healing journey, I keep bumping into these waves of grief, fear, and exhaustion that I used to suppress. I did the surfing-the-emotion activity recently and imagined my stress and fear as a wave I could ride instead of drown in, and it honestly helped more than I thought it would. I still struggle with letting go of control, but it felt freeing to just feel without fixing.
What helps you ride the wave when it starts to feel overwhelming?
@Juliet1 Growing up in survival mode leaves deep marks and staying busy to avoid feeling is something so many of us know too well. Facing those waves of grief and fear instead of pushing them down takes real courage.
For me, when the wave feels too big, I visualize those waves breaking gently on shore instead of crashing down. And when I can, I reach out to someone who gets it because sometimes riding the wave is easier with company.