In a Moment - Issue 28
Over the last few months, my husband and I have been exploring getting a second dog. We've been approved to be adopters by a few rescues and we peruse the available pup listings weekly, waiting for the right pup to pop up.
Along with these searches, I've also been doing some reading up on how best to introduce a new dog into a home with a pup. In my reading, I came across several articles about decompression. This is a process for helping a newly rescued pup get acclimated to their new home. When a pup is exposed to a new environment they can, at times, experience what is called "trigger stacking." A new home, new smells, new people, new sounds. Each of these stressors stacks upon one another, leading to a strong stress reaction and distress for the dog. The recommended approach is to give the pup time to decompress after being exposed to a stressor. This decompression typically happens in a safe space for the pup -- a kennel, a bed, a den-like space just for them.
As I was doing all this reading, I realized I was in need of my own decompression.
The trigger stacking of the news of late -- Minneapolis, Chicago, Indianapolis, the list goes on. As I read news stories, I would notice my own stress response -- anxiety, tension, anger, pain. To cope with these stressors, I would often turn to methods that were more numbing in nature -- to distract from or mute the stress. The problem with this approach for me is that although numbing out would alleviate the stress temporarily when I would read an article or listen to a podcast, the stress would come roaring back at heightened levels and I would seek to numb out again.
Rather than numbing out to what is going on, I want to make sure I'm able to stay informed and also take action against injustice. And so I'm exploring a decompression practice. I am following my engagement with news or other stressors with a short decompression activity. These are simple activities I can do that allow me to untether from the stress response and tend to myself for a moment. They currently include petting Winston, watering my plants, dancing or moving around, going for a walk outside, and mindful breathing. I'm finding by taking a moment to decompress, I am better able to stay engaged whether that be through learning, reading, or donating.
An so, perhaps consider what are ways that you can decompress?
What are some simple activities you can integrate throughout your day to unwind from stress as you see it arise?