My Body Doesn’t Know the Danger is Over
It’s Protecting Me
I notice how smart the body is. It’s protecting me. It’s trying to keep me from harm. It’s hypervigilant and always scanning for danger. It’s a great friend who wants to make sure nothing happens to me.
The only problem is that the danger (which was quite a lot) has passed a long time ago. My body doesn’t know it yet. It still keeps its heart rate high at times. It’s still in fight or flight mode. It’s still ready to face the disaster. It’s still bracing for impact.
My head tells my body that it’s okay and the danger is over but my body replies with: “I believe you but I have to make sure it doesn’t happen again.”
I Have No Answers
There’s not much I can say to my body to stop it from being on edge constantly. I used to get angry at my body when it was hurting. I want my body to stop sounding somatic alarms, but I guess it’s what the body needs to do.
My guess is that my body wants me to see it. To look at it. Not only when it’s healed. Also, when it’s hurting. Because that might be the moment it needs my attention the most.
It doesn’t want my advice on how to ‘heal faster’ and what it should have done. It just wants my attention. So it knows that it’s ok to be here. That the body is allowed to be here as it is. That it is accepted. Maybe even cherished and loved.
While I used to get angry at my body in the past, I now try to just sit with the feeling and try to let my body do the work. To let it take the time it needs. I’m not angry at it anymore but it’s still uncomfortable.
So What Can One Do?
To be honest, I have no clue. Perhaps I’ll have answers soon.
For now, I just listen to my body and don’t try to force too many breakthroughs. I go outside more and hang out with other people.
Placing my attention on Source/God/Universe is really soothing. Listening to Alan Watts or reading Ramana Maharsha reminds me of what I really am. Music relaxes the body too.
It is weird to write a story without a conclusion, but I still find it valuable to share what I’m noticing.
Closing off, I have no answers. I just recognize that my body is trying to keep me from harm and that is really sweet. I can look at my body’s hypervigilance as love. I went from anger to appreciation.
Thank you, body :)
Feel free to share your tips in the comments. What helps you when you notice the body doesn’t know the danger is over yet?
