Intense, overwhelming feelings stop you in your tracks. You can’t think clearly. Your feelings are spinning out of control and taking you with them. This is emotional flooding.
The primitive part of the brain, the amygdala, is all about survival and emotions. When you’re flooding, the amygdala is operating at full capacity. Stress hormones like cortisol are produced.
This also means that the frontal cortex, the rational, thinking part of the brain, shuts down. Your emotions are in control.
This is where breathwork, a routine task, and exercise come in. They can gradually help slow down the flooding and unpleasant sensations in your body, leaving you a little calmer and able to think more clearly.
The next time you’re flooding, see if you can name it. That alone can begin to shift your emotional state.
Fern Weis is a certified life coach who learned that caring and good intentions are not enough in parenting. In fact, they are often the problem! Fern supports parents of teens and young adults who are going through difficult situations, including addiction recovery. She helps parents release guilt, end enabling and confidently prepare their children to thrive through life's challenges. Her articles are featured in Thrive Global, Medium, Motherly, The Teen Mentor, and Bergen County Moms.
Learn more about coaching and classes at www.fernweis.com. And then download your free guide, "Five Powerful Steps to Get Your Teen to Talk." For information on Family Recovery programs, visit www.familyrecoverypartners.com.