Re-Entry Stress, the Let-down effect and Term 4

"Not everything that is faced can be changed, but nothing can be changed until it is faced."

— James Baldwin

How are you feeling about the current or fast approaching easing of restrictions? It's a hugely mixed bag of emotions, eh? From anticipation and relief that life can begin to expand again, to stress and anxiety about how we are going to navigate all the uncertainties and the associated big feelings!

For many of us, our kids will be gradually heading back to school, kinder and then activities over the next few weeks and it could be a bit of a bumpy ride for us and them. After such a prolonged time of holding so much through this period of rolling lockdowns, we need to go gently as we let the valve off the lockdown pressure cooker. Initially the steam build up could be a bit explosive and being mindful of Re-Entry Stress/Anxiety and the Letdown Effect feels vital. They are REAL and many of us will experience them as we enter an expanded life space.

For those who aren't familiar:

• Re-entry Stress/Anxiety is all the worries, anxieties and stresses caused by re-entering the world. It's not just about our anxious thoughts, it's also about the added social/emotional demands of re-engaging in busy environments when we've had so little of that over the last 18 months. It will affect our kids too... in their own ways.

  The Letdown Effect is that all too familiar experience of feeling crap once the pressure and stress of an intense time is relieved. Our nervous system, which has been on overdrive, decides it's time to flush out the stress and we hit the wall.

So I guess, I wanted to give you the heads up, if you weren't already aware of them, to be conscious of Re-entry Stress and the Let-Down Effect, for you and especially for your children. Because if we are able to face the things which are coming, then we'll have a better chance at being able to change how we live with them.

Rather than watching the shit show unfold before our eyes, what might be possible (within our current limited capacity) to bring more conscious awareness to what is going on for us, our kids and others who we care about?

When we become aware of stress, anxiety, or letdown, how might we hold the big feelings so that we can find our way forwards?

What plans or strategies might be helpful to support us and our families during this re-entry time?
If you're needing a companion to walk alongside you as you support your family over the next few weeks, I've got a small number of virtual Lifewalker 1-1 spots available in the next fortnight.

As one client said to me: "It's not like I can message a friend and be like, hey, can we book in an hour each week so you can just listen to me rave about all my big life stuff !"

Having the weekly Lifewalker sessions has meant they have been able to approach their life more mindfully, knowing that there is a companion waiting to support them in digesting all that is going on.

If you want to get a taste of how a little bit of companionship can help you walk through your week feeling more aware, aligned and understood, hit reply to book in a session or ask a question.

As a fellow traveller, I'll be out on the winding paths with you in the coming weeks and in my next message I'll plan to give you some more practical and personal insights into how things look at my end.

PS. If you know someone who might appreciate some companionship on their journey, would you please share this with them?