Page 11 - Desert Oracle December 2019

Hello all,

Here are the notes to September’s meeting on living a Content and Secure Life. And a
small note on October's meeting plus some photos. **Please note that the
suggestions listed below are not a cure to one's conditions, pain, or health ailments.
They are merely ways to support and encourage a healthy alternative to managing
life's obstacles. If you are in danger or your safety is at risk, and you need
professional help, please do not hesitate to reach out to someone you trust, a medical
professional, or contact a hotline that will best support you. If you need assistance
with this, please do not hesitate to reach out. Thank you.

Living A More Content and Secure Life

When a person experiences trauma, post-traumatic stress can transform an
individual’s approach to dealing with life. Trauma can put a person into a constant
state of fight or flight or feeling numb and frozen, which in turn becomes their new
normal or their new baseline for living. Individuals may begin to forget what it felt like
to live in a space where life seems balanced, fun, and manageable.

We have learned that remaining in a constant state of fight or flight or numb and
frozen can have adverse effects on our health. On the one hand, we have Fight or
Flight individuals. People who may battle anxiety or fear, irritability or anger, feelings
of being overwhelmed and stressed, and may have stress-related health issues.
Irregular heart rhythms, high blood pressure, digestive problems, poor quality of sleep,
increased pain, and an unstable autonomic nervous system, to name a few. On the
other hand, we have Numb and Frozen individuals. People who may battle depression
or feelings of emptiness, lack motivation/drive to live, fear and anxiety, and have their
own set of health issues. Poor appetite, low blood pressure, circulation issues,
irregular sleep patterns, and again, increased pain and unstable autonomic nervous
systems, to name a few. Managing any of the above conditions, along with post-
traumatic stress/pain, can make one feel helpless, whether you're the individual
directly dealing with the trauma or you're the supporting family member or caregiver.

When a person feels secure and content, they are more at ease with themselves and
with life. A Secure and Content individual's demeanor tends to be calmer, stress-free,
loving, joyful, and are overall satisfied with life. Health issues are at a minimum as