Family Anxiety, 7

If you watched a parent grit their teeth and clench their fist, but never say anything, you noticed. If you observed a parent catapult into rapid speech and dysregulated emotion, you took notes...

Family Anxiety, 6

Anxiety is not an on/off switch, it is like a dimmer. When you choose to be conscious of the brighten and fade, it empowers you to intervene on your own behalf. Journal Prompts: My anxiety increases when... My anxiety is at the lowest when... My anxiety is most manageable when...

Family Anxiety, 5

Your body has athletic memory that cues hyper-vigilance and rapid speech into place. While this memory is protective and helpful often, sometimes with family, it is memory response instead of a contextual one. Journal Prompts: ...immediately prompts anxiety for me. ...triggers hyper-vigilance.

Family Anxiety, 4

Anxiety shapes the way you experience family. Molded from repetition, you slip into a glove of responsiveness that is comfortable because it is known. Think a stiff leather glove, with little flexibility, demanding that you experience family as you always have. Journal Prompts: I am hypersensitive to... My family will always be... My filter says...

Family Anxiety, 1

Anxiety in family is like a contagion. Some are tirelessly responsive to the energy field of anxiety, hypervigilant and licking it off the floor, while others, unbothered, step out of the way and wave as it sprints (and coughs) by. Journal Prompts: The anxiety energy in my family is... I usually pick up... I wish I could step out of the way and wave at...

Boundaries At Work, 9

The fill-in-the-blank expectations that accompany passivity robs your nervous system and work capacity. You do not need to take action and direction from passive communication. This only reinforces poor communication. You can clarify expectations. You can communicate directly. Journal Prompts: They didn’t say it, but I know they meant... They could probably tell I was...

Boundaries At Work, 8

Just because something went wrong, does not mean it’s your fault. If boundaries are difficult for you, check your sense of over-responsibility. Journal Prompts: When people hand out responsibility cards I... I did not need to take responsibility for...

Boundaries At Work, 7

Survey the sustainability of your current work situation. Actions that offer praise and promotions may not be sustainable, further, they may be distant from what is in service of your wellness. Journal Prompts: I felt resentful when I said yes to... It is not sustainable to...

Boundaries At Work, 6

Anxiety is the winner when expectations are unclear. To mentally survive in a work environment it is reasonable and necessary to have clear expectations. Journal Prompts: ...is not clear to me. In my work I do... In my work I do not...

Boundaries At Work, 5

Like a tire trying to leave the mud, work spits on the rest of your life when there are no clear end times. Your nervous system needs the security of a limit. Journal Prompts: My normal end time is when... My nervous system requests...