FAMILY THERAPY CENTER OF NORTHERN VIRGINIA, LLC
  • Us
    • Meet the Team >
      • What is an Intern?
      • What is a Resident?
    • Blog: Varied Topics by Our Clinicians
    • Blog: Lyme, PANDAS & Other Infections in Children & Adults
  • Adults & Teens
    • Individual Therapy
    • Couples Therapy
    • Family Therapy
    • In Crisis?
  • Child/Tween
    • Play Therapy Explained
    • Issues We Treat
    • Playful Tele-Health
    • In Crisis?
  • Meditation
    • 8 Week Stress Series
  • Admin & Contact Info
    • Paperwork for Chloe Cook Clients
  • For Other Therapists
    • Play Therapy Trainings >
      • Play Therapy Training
      • Play Training: Jan 22, 2021
      • Play Training: March 19, 2021
      • Grievances & Refunds
    • CE Trainings
    • Supervision: RPT

It’s happening already. Getting back with our people is HARD. Good, but HARD. Life After (sort of) COVID.

5/2/2021

0 Comments

 
Picture
I met with a fifth grader quarantined to home including on-line school, very little contact with children his own age and being home with two working parents. Both parents and live-in grandma are fully vaccinated and the child is now able to play outside at his leisure. Yea!! Right? 

NOT SO MUCH.

“Mrs Gabrielle, I couldn’t hardly do it. I went out to play with the neighbors and I got SO anxious I started crying and just went back inside to play video games. Can you help me with my social anxiety?”

Raise your hand if you are feeling this. Right? Most hands go up. 

Life isn’t going back to normal anytime soon. We all know this. Even glimpses of our old life are layered in masks, disinfectants and awkward should I hug you or just stand here interactions. 

I met with a dear friend at a vineyard the other night. How AMAZING to catch up and share the inner workings of our lives with one other. It felt great…and then it didn’t. 

My nervous system began to tap me on the shoulder…”Hey. This is nice and all, but we’re not used to feeling into our friends’ nervous systems like this and for this long. Can you take me home?”

Humans are designed to feel into each other’s spaces. Mirror neurons, energy exchanges, what our 5 senses pull in… it’s what helps us connect to our tribe and attach. 

When your body is not used to connecting with a vast array of people, your nervous system might not be up for all of the NEW INFORMATION. 

Does it feel like social anxiety? Yes! Is it? 

From where I stand, diagnoses often do us a disservice because they fail to see the human within the diagnosis. In this case, it looks and feels like social anxiety, but isn’t specific enough. 

What Can You Do?
For starters, Feel In. Notice what it feels like in your body when you are out in public or with a friend. When you begin to feel squirmy, overwhelmed or anxious, take a sensory break. Excuse yourself to the bathroom and use this time and place to be alone and breath, suggest getting up to walk around, put more physical space between you and your friend if possible .  

OR be honest about your nervous system. Teach your loved one what is happening inside your body and inside of theirs and end the outing earlier than you would have before COVID. Take care of yourself. 

Weening your nerous system back is possible IF YOU ARE MINDFUL.

Train Your Nervous System!
Want more opportunities to build your Mindful Awareness? We are partnered with The Willows Crown Meditation Studio to offer reasonably priced virtual and in-person meditation to help you heal your nervous system and find the calm you crave. Our Mindful Meditation class is a GREAT place to start. It doesn't;t matter where you live. You can join us today!  Check out our Meditation Offerings Here. 

0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Author

    These blog entries are written by our very own clinicians. When inspiration hits, another entry will be logged. 


    Get Blog Updates

    RSS Feed

    What is an RSS FEEDER? If you click on the RSS Feeder, anytime a new blog entry is added to the website, you will be automatically notified of it. The only thing you need to do is get an RSS READER app. Chances are, if you click on the RSS Feeder, and you do not have a reader, it will take you directly to the app store so you can install one. It takes 60 seconds to get set up for auto notifications of new blogs sent directly to you!

    Archives

    May 2021
    October 2018
    November 2017
    June 2017
    March 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    November 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013

    Categories

    All
    About Or For Children
    Author: Chelsey Brooks
    Author: Gabrielle Anderson
    Author: Katie Wells
    Author: Tracey Powell
    Author: Tucker Landry
    Author: Valerie Tunks
    Divorce
    Emotional Balance & Wellbeing
    Health & Nutrition
    Lyme Or PANDAS
    Parenting Topics
    Play/Art Therapy Examples
    Relationships
    Trauma

Get Help for Yourself or a Loved One Today! 


Hours

M-F: 8am - 9pm
Sat: 8am -2pm

Telephone

571-733-9736

Center's Owner Contact Info:        Practice Address:

Gabrielle@FamilyTherapyNova.com.                       19420 Golf Vista Plaza #330
Owner/Licensed Therapist                                     Lansdowne, VA 20176
  • Us
    • Meet the Team >
      • What is an Intern?
      • What is a Resident?
    • Blog: Varied Topics by Our Clinicians
    • Blog: Lyme, PANDAS & Other Infections in Children & Adults
  • Adults & Teens
    • Individual Therapy
    • Couples Therapy
    • Family Therapy
    • In Crisis?
  • Child/Tween
    • Play Therapy Explained
    • Issues We Treat
    • Playful Tele-Health
    • In Crisis?
  • Meditation
    • 8 Week Stress Series
  • Admin & Contact Info
    • Paperwork for Chloe Cook Clients
  • For Other Therapists
    • Play Therapy Trainings >
      • Play Therapy Training
      • Play Training: Jan 22, 2021
      • Play Training: March 19, 2021
      • Grievances & Refunds
    • CE Trainings
    • Supervision: RPT