Starting off with the two basic responses: fight or flight. This has been enlarged to at least seven: fight, flight, freeze, fawn, flop, friend and fatigue.
Let’s take a look at four more familiar ones:
FIGHT angry, combative, threatening, screaming, demanding, controlling, defensive
FLIGHT fearful, anxious, avoidance, run away, procrastination, withdrawal, hide
FREEZE helpless, overwhelm, stuck, shut down zone out, unresponsive, isolate
FAWN codependence, anxious, people-pleasing, no boundaries, flattering others, can’t speak up, easily controlled
Where there is trauma, there are results. Some seen, some felt, some small and some large, some perceived, some real. They will affect each individual to various degrees based on an individual’s makeup, length and intensity of the trauma. All can work against my health and well-being.
I my case, I felt at one time that I could manage about anything. But what has been revealed is the theorem “intellectualizing it will make it true” doesn’t work. What I now believe is just because my mind thinks one thing, my body is only at the state of development to manage only some things well but other things, particularly emotional things affect it to a very significant degree. I think of it as a lesson in “mother nature”. I need to learn, and apply, the teachings because I don’t have the power to change mother nature. I am continuing to work at talking to my body and listening to what my body is telling me. I sometimes scold parts of the body, organ, cells, etc., and to listen to them. I also encourage them in what they do well. AND I thank them for what they do on a regular basis. What do they want?, what do they need? I need to be honest to my body and am learning to relish in what it gives me. I relish in the community of music and dance and sharing friendships and common interests in many areas. Laughter and exercise are nourishment for my soul, whatever scientific evidence that there is of the existence of soul…but I sure feel/know it exists. And being in nature is so enriching, possibly an aspect of things “simpler” when compared to the rush of much of modern technology.
For me contradance is a “healing center”, a mini and temporary “blue zone”. It is fun and for some people such as myself, it is also “serious fun”. Raising up the endorphins I’m pushing out that tensions and traumas. It can be peaceful as a monk listening to the music or is energizing to stamp out the demons. There is releasing of past and/or present traumas.
Releasing suppressed emotions
This can be done by audible and/or physical expenditures of energy.
One of the ways that stress weakens my immune system is by changing which neuropeptides our cells release. To have a healthy effect the immune system includes serotonin, dopamine and relaxin. Neuropeptides that have a weakening effect on my immune system especially over an extended period of time include cortisol, epinephrine and adrenaline. First I need to turn off the flight or fight mode to get in a healing mode by releasing suppressed emotions from the past. As soon as I am out of the fight or flight mode the body naturally begins to repair cells and heal itself. The healing process can be enhanced by purposely trying to feel positive emotions such as love joy and happiness. Positive emotions charge the immune system. That in turn releases a surge of healing hormones into our bloodstream, including serotonin, relaxin, oxycontin, dopamine, and endorphins.
Increasing positive emotions
On a daily basis, normally three times a day I reflect on things for which I am grateful. I also reflect on what some folks might call problems/negative issues but can be viewed as opportunities. I try to experience on a daily basis happiness, joy and love. For me a contra dance is an expression of positivity which can be intense. It also embraces social support by way of the DANCE COMMUNITY.