You can’t think your way out of a stressful situation.
For those of us who rely heavily on our intellect as we move through the world, we have a habit of thinking our way through stress.
We rationalise, practice gratitude, or reframe the situation.
We may write a list of reasons why we shouldn’t be feeling how we feel.
These methods don’t help the mind and body to recover.
The thinking, logical brain is not responsible for stress recovery.
Recovery is the instinctive, survival brain’s job.
Recovery goes on at a subconscious level.
And the survival brain will not start the recovery process unless it’s absolutely certain that you are safe.
No matter how persuasive or intelligent you are, don’t try to convince your survival brain with logical arguments—it will not listen to you.
The survival brain will do its thing—collecting thousands of cues from inside and outside—and will begin recovery only when it perceives that you are safe.
When you rationalise to calm yourself down, you only slow down the recovery process.
So, next time you freak out, forget about gratitude and positive self-talk.
Have an ice-cream instead.
With love, Angelos