Hurricane fatigue- 5 ways to reset your nervous system
“Hurricane fatigue is a real thing. After a significant hurricane event, many people who are running on adrenaline will crash- both physically and emotionally. And it often doesn’t happen right away, but sometimes weeks or months afterwards. You are not alone feeling this way, and it’s very normal.” - meteorologist Craig Setzer
When I came across this quote after several major hurricanes ravaged the west coast of Florida, it really spoke to me. Exhaustion settled in for me shortly after getting electricity back on and putting away all the things I’d packed up if the need came to suddenly flee. Making decisions about what you really care to save, preparing and packing, riding out the storm listening to the howling winds and objects hitting your home, unpacking, living without electricity and trying to keep food safe, all require a lot of energy. And it’s a lot of stress on the nervous system.
That adrenaline feels great until you crash. Many of us are adrenaline dominant on a regular basis and seem to have tons of energy to get things done and get through difficult times. But the body eventually says NO because it’s not sustainable. If you’re feeling deep fatigue, aching muscles, depressed, physically, mentally and emotionally depleted, there are some simple things you can do to help recalibrate your nervous system.
1- Rest is most important. It’s not the same as sleep. Sit outside in nature, take a leisurely stroll, lie down and put on some solfeggio healing music, meditate, pray, read something thought-provoking or inspirational (in a book, not a screen). Get in at least a few rest breaks every day however you can.
2- Check in with your breath and body regularly. How we breathe is a primary signal to the nervous system that tells us if we’re safe or under threat. Holding the breath, rapid and shallow breathing is super common. It might seem ridiculous, but we really do need to remind ourselves to breathe slowly, deeply, and through the nose because most of us are unconsciously breathing in a way that tells us we’re in danger.
3- Spend as much time in nature and sunlight as possible, especially the first 2 hours of the day to optimize your circadian rhythm. Even when it’s cloudy, being outside is one of the most helpful ways to normalize our hormones. Get outside for quick breaks whenever you can to help recharge your battery.
4- Shake, dance, walk, move your body. Animals shake and tremble after an episode of fear and so should we. Shaking your body vigorously for 1-2 minutes releases the stressful, frenetic energy so it’s not stored in the cells and tissues of your body, leading to issues in your tissues.
5- Get more salt to replenish minerals. The adrenals aren’t meant to constantly produce stress hormones, but they will to get us through. Problem is, stress tanks our minerals and we end up exhausted. We need to nourish our depleted adrenals by getting plenty of mineral-rich salt. I like Icelandic or Celtic.
I hope you find these tips as helpful as I do. Know that in the aftermath, feeling relief, gratitude, heartbreak and grief all at the same time is normal. We all need to practice extra self-compassion and self-care during times like this. Leave a comment and let me know how you’re taking care of yourself.
#hurricanefatigue #stresstips #nervoussystemsupport #hurricanestress #selfcare #selfcompassion