Always on Alert? And How to Let It Go

Have you ever noticed that even when life calms down, you want to relax in the evening or you go on holidays, your body doesn’t seem to get the message?

Maybe your shoulders stay tense, your mind races, or you feel constantly on edge.

That’s your nervous system still trying to find its way back to safety — a sign that stress or old trauma may still be living in the body.

I meet with many people who struggle to relax, to feel safe within their bodies, to let go and enjoy life. Feeling an almost constant state of threat in your ordinary daily life is wearing on the body and mind and it can be very difficult to let go and relax.

For whatever reason in your background ( adverse childhood experiences, traumatic life experiences such as accidents, losses etc), your body may sense an ongoing feeling of threat and it tries to protect you and keep you safe by keeping you on alert.

It can feel almost impossible to switch off the feeling of being on alert.

You may have tried breathing exercises, meditation, yoga, mindfulness and other practices.

These practices are very useful once the sense of threat has been reduced but first, the feeling of adrenaline and charge in the body must be released.

It can feel like trying to stop a runaway train if we move from feeling on high alert to trying to sit in meditation! First, we must slow the train down!

Most people I meet who are living on high alert feel that they are to blame in some way for how they are feeling (e.g. 'why can't I be like other people who can relax and enjoy life?', 'why do I react so severely to any stressor in my life?'

Once they understand why they are living in a stress state and its origins and how their body is trying to protect them, the battle within themselves starts to lessen.

When we understand ourselves, we can start to feel compassion towards ourselves.

If you are someone who struggles with feeling on high alert, it is useful to find an exercise practice that helps you to release the charge in your body before trying a relaxation technique. For example, doing squats, running, boxing, rugby, a dance exercise class can all help you to let go of the built up tension in your system from being on alert.

After releasing some of the built up charge in the body, then try to do an active relaxation exercise such as Tai Chi (look on YouTube or find a local class), a walking meditation out in nature or dance to some music at home.

You may find that after these exercises, it feels easier to do a short meditation or to notice your five senses and listen to the sound of a clock ticking, for example.

Slowing down the train is the aim!

Remember to give yourself plenty of time, patience and self-compassion while you try to reduce the feeling of being on alert.

Your body has always been trying to seek a feeling of safety.

Be gentle and patient with yourself while your body learns a new way of being in relation to the world. 

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