Seeking Safety When Chaos Is Present

How difficult is it to reassure your body that you are okay when you're living in what your body perceives as chaos? It's often easy to set expectations, such as “I should be okay” or “I should handle this better,” but this comes from the thinking brain relying on what should happen. When you consider how your body seeks safety and regulation, it's important to speak its language: movement.

As a psychologist working from a systemic approach, I consider the many variables that may be affecting both the body and the brain. When you treat yourself as if you are the same as everyone else and should function the same way, you risk erasing your own history, culture, vulnerabilities, language, and strengths. The reality is this: you are not everyone else. You are unique by nature. Therefore, it is essential to explore what safety truly means to you.

At this moment, there's a great deal happening socially, and it makes sense if your body feels on edge or has difficulty recognizing what regulation looks like. It's important to normalize your survival response when, systemically, many challenging and uncertain situations are unfolding at once.

I invite you to reflect on how you can cultivate a sense of safety amid the chaos we are living in. Notice where your body is physically right now and identify what you have control over in this moment: perhaps the chair you choose to sit in today, the clothes you wear, the music you listen to, your words, or your movement. These choices may feel too small, but when your body has the capacity to focus on what is within your control, it can help you create a personal map and a deeper understanding of what safety means to you.