Let’s talk about closing open browser tabs.
Every time we encounter something stressful, we begin a stress response cycle. We open a new tab in our brain’s browser, and it has to go through a few processes before we can close it.
If it doesn’t go through these processes, the tab stays open. We might ignore it, go focus on something else, but it’s there taking up resources.
If we keep opening tabs and then not closing them, the capacity we have to manage the things we want to focus on gets smaller and smaller until it starts impacting our day to day life.
Old tabs might demand the be seen again. We might feel like everything takes double the effort. We might start dreaming of tabs we thought we’d closed. A process that would normally be easy to run becomes a giant ordeal and we might find ourselves getting overwhelmed at what is normally a tiny hiccup.
This is one of the things that leads to burnout.
When these tabs are traumatic experiences, this is what can lead to traumatic injury.
Meet the Stress Response Cycle
1) The Gut reaction.
There it is again, that funny feeling
Our mind decides whether the triggering event is a threat or not.
2) The Physical Response
His palms are sweaty, knees weak, arms are heavy
There’s vomit on his sweater already, mom’s spaghetti
He’s nervous, but on the surface he looks calm and ready
3) Internalisation and incubation
This can go one of two ways – it can be open and curious, or it can
be closed and re-enforce our existing thoughts and feelings.
We can deliberately act in this space, or we can default to whatever coping skills we have on board, for better or for worse.
This is the point where a tab will either remain open, or be closed.
4) Homeostasis
Our bodies always want to return to a familiar space of balance. It doesn’t mean a good one, it means the one that’s most familiar to us.
How do we close open tabs?
1. Physical Activity
30 seconds of wriggling, jiggling, jumping, shaking, dancing. Whatever makes your brain happy and gets your body moving.
2. Breathing
Long, slow, deep breaths into your lower belly, hold briefly, long slow breath out.
3.Social Interaction
A brief check in with a mate, a colleague, or even a pet. Doesn’t have to be a conversation about the stress itself.
4. Affection
Obviously with enthusiastic consent, hug someone and hold it until you relax. If you pay attention, you can often feel that moment of relaxation come over you.
Alternatively, give someone a genuine compliment about something you appreciate about them. Make it an action they’ve done or a trait they have.
5. Laughter
There’s a reason we love dumb shit on the internet.
6. Tears
Rustle up a feeling, do what you have to do, find a spot where you won’t be disturbed, and have an ugly cry about it.
7. Creativity
Working with your hands does great things for the nervous system. This works a treat if it’s something that you don’t feel pressure about being good. Colouring, crochet, knitting, drawing are all great options, but you do you!
