I started and stopped the Levine Protocol so many times I lost track.
My sleep routine would go out the door. All the pacing activities that I would previously do were forgotten. The vagus exercises, as well. I craved mostly carbs and sweets, and vegetables grossed me out.
I would get frustrated that there was no consistency, although I understood that consistency was key.
It was only when I stopped fighting against the flare-ups that things improved.
I realized that for now, this is how things were. I stayed with the uncomfortable feelings.
I knew that this was just a pause. I had hit “pause” but not “stop.”
For a few days, I gave myself the grace to nap instead of snacking for a boost in energy. Instead of trying to stay awake and lying in bed watching tv or scrolling through social media, I laid with my eyes closed or napped.
Just realizing that this was nothing more than a speed bump and that I was going to get back to my routines and habits helped. It wasn’t an “all-or-nothing” situation.
With less guilt and less shaming, I was able to slowly get back.
For movement, I would do yoga or light Pilates since I was still quite fatigued, and then I’d slowly build back up again.
I noticed that once the initial fatigue wore off, I still had more stamina than before. I wasn’t at step zero. I had just pressed “pause.”
What helps you cope the most when having a flare-up?
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