You know the classic stress response of fight or flight... an animal faced with a threat either fights the danger or flees the danger? I've heard for years that a third F was added "freeze" and I've seen videos of zebras frozen as a lion paws them; freeze is definitely a response that exists while less common.
I've recently heard of a fourth F, "fawn". It's the idea that at least humans can respond to a high-threat environment by fawning on those in power to survive.
Well, after this intense month of challenges, I want to add a fifth F... "frazzle"! It's reaching that level of high demand over a long enough time that one feels physiologically frazzled. Brain and body are less coordinated with a low-grade-level of flustered that hasn't reached overwhelm. I do a ton of self-care and I've learned enough over my life to usually avoid those first four by adjusting my nervous-system replenishing efforts. (My habit is translating more stressors to more self-care.)
But, a full month of skating the edge of too many demands has me experiencing frazzle. I'm coping and I'm still increasing my self-care and I'm pretty sure I'm past top-demands so that replenishing can commence. I'm ready and I am definitely watching my boundaries because staying in frazzle too long sounds really unhealthy.
Here's to some serious replenishing fun on the horizon!🥳
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| Frazzle feels like brain/body are like Piper's feathers after getting tumbled by a wave |
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