Fight or Flight: Understanding Shame, Stress, and How to Soothe

In this episode, we put a name to the painful feeling that we are inherently flawed and therefore unworthy of love and belonging: shame. We unpack how shame negatively impacts our ability to connect with others in a vulnerable, authentic way by telling us that we’re not good enough and that it’s better to hide behind a mask. We also discuss the difference between guilt, embarrassment, and shame, and why the first two support growth and connection while the last is both unnecessary and unhelpful. 

And because shame, like continuous partial attention, can trigger our fight or flight response, we then shift the conversation to exploring what happens inside of our body when the stress response is activated. I offer a brief overview of the nervous system with a particular emphasis on the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems, and I explain how chronic stress can negatively affect our bodies as well as the choices available to us to avoid those outcomes. 

The episode concludes with a self-compassion practice created by Dr. Kristen Neff called a Self-Compassion Break. It’s short, sweet, and a beautifully portable practice to support us during life’s inevitably challenging times.

 

SHOW NOTES: 

Brené Brown's TED talk from 2010: The Power of Vulnerability

https://www.ted.com/talks/brene_brown_the_power_of_vulnerability?subtitle=en

The Anxiety Centre: The Stress Response

https://www.anxietycentre.com/anxiety-disorders/symptoms/stress-response/

 

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Tending to Change is hosted by Jeni Juarez, a 500-hr RYT, a mother of four, and a dedicated student on the path of the heart. Having struggled with trauma, addiction, and debilitating anxiety, she has deep gratitude for the power of nature, stillness practices, and loving community to completely change the trajectory of one’s life.

Jeni believes there is a significant undervaluation of emotional resilience and cultivating peace of mind in our fast-paced, over-achieving culture, and she’s excited to be a part of the momentum that is actively working to change that narrative.

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Please know that…

The intent of this podcast is only to offer information of a general nature to help you in your quest for emotional and spiritual well-being.

Content presented or posted on this channel is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, treatment, or a professional therapeutic relationship. In the event you use any of the information in these episodes for yourself, which is your constitutional right, the creator assumes no responsibility for your actions.