You had a feeling for some time something was not quite right.
You went through all the hurdles to have your child looked at by the professionals.
And now, you have the diagnosis…. It’s autism. Although, you had your suspicions, it still comes like a blow with a club. You feel all sorts of emotions - anger, guilt, blame, despair, worry, sadness, frustration, fear, ‘why me?’, relief….
All those emotions are completely normal but they can also stop you from taking action and moving forward.
To help you get back to a more uplifting state, ready for some actions, I’d like to give you some tips to recognise, accept and release feelings and emotions that don’t serve you. These are the steps I use myself to clear my ‘gremlins’ emotions.
Feelings are unconscious signals that are translated physically as muscle contractions.
They are information about ourselves. Some feelings have a very definite purpose you shouldn’t ignore, e.g. repetitive pain in certain areas of your body might be a way to warn you something needs to be looked at.
What we’re dealing with here are emotions that limit you, that do not benefit you.
1. Recognise the emotion
Notice what happens when you have this emotion.
Where do you feel it in your body?
Does it have a shape? A weight? A colour?
Does it move?
What do you hear? What are you saying to yourself?
What do you see?
2. Accept the feeling
Acceptance is the path to freedom and by accepting the feeling, you’re going to free yourself from it.
To do so, focus on where the feeling is in your body and say “Thank you” or “Thank you for this feeling” (whichever works best for you).
Notice what happens then.
This is a way to acknowledge your unconscious mind for taking care of you.
3. Release the feeling
Repeat step 2. until the physical manifestation of your emotion has subsided and you either get a more useful emotion or it’s neutral
Take your time and stay tuned to the feeling in your body.
The more you do this, the easier and more second nature it becomes.
So, stick with it and let me know how it is for you.
One last point.
I often get this question: “If I do this exercise, does this mean the feeling will be gone forever?”
No. All your range of feelings will always be with you. However, it means you’ll know how to deal with it in a way appropriate for your own purpose.
Until next time.
With love,
Karine
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