How to Release Tension
Ivy Griffin
We all know that being highly sensitive can really drain our energy. It makes sense that anyone who is highly attuned to their environment and the feelings of others would feel exhausted after absorbing so much sensory information. But, one of the things I’ve been paying attention to recently is the balance of input versus output. We take in all this information all day every day, but where does it go?
If we think of ourselves like any other system that only has a finite amount of space for input, we eventually need to clear it out to make room for other stuff. It reminds me of when I was a kid, and I would shove so much junk into my closet that eventually I wouldn’t be able to close the doors and the junk would come spilling out. I think this happens for us too--we become full to the brim until we just can’t take any more, and we sort of explode!
Well, perhaps we need to be a little more intentional about clearing room and getting rid of old stuff, so we don’t get overloaded. How can we do this?
Exercise might seem counterintuitive when you’re overwhelmed and exhausted, but even short bursts of physical activity can help to release some of that pressure. If you feel tension building, stand up and do 10 squats or “fluff up” your pillows by punching the heck out of them, dance to one of your favorite songs or literally just “shake off” your stress by shaking your arms and legs and maybe even letting out a big “bleh!” If you want more guidance in what exercise to do, try the New York Times Scientific 7 minute workout. Or, if you really don’t feel like moving, even screaming into a pillow or ripping up some paper can do you good.
Music is a wonderful way of releasing stress--it’s full of emotion and has the power to both help us to release pent-up feelings and change our moods. Belt out your favorite song or just groove to the music at home or in your car. If you don’t already play an instrument, a little air-guitar or air-drums could be just the ticket. You might even focus on putting together a playlist of songs for just these occasions.
Create! You don’t have to be an artist to create! Baking, gardening, building, and decorating are also powerful forms of expression that help us to release stress and tension. Whatever you choose, it helps to have the supplies readily available for when you want to use them. When we’re feeling at max capacity, usually the last thing we need is to have to put more effort in. But, if you have your cabinet stocked with baking staples, your art or craft materials organized in a box, or your gardening tools waiting for you on the shelf, it’ll be that much easier to go ahead and help yourself create and release.
Talking to a good friend or a therapist. Sometimes just talking about and naming what is happening for us takes the power out of it. Sharing how you’re feeling with a close friend or loved one or with a trusted therapist can help you get out all those feelings that have built up and can let you feel heard, understood, supported, and maybe even give you a new perspective. And, highly sensitive people (HSPs) tend to benefit a lot from these kinds of deep, meaningful social experiences.
It’s important to remember not to wait to do these things. We are constantly receiving input, which means we regularly need some form of release to keep things from building up. For some of us, it can help to even block off time in our schedule that we know is just for us and turn off our phones so we don’t get distracted. Remember that building new and healthy habits takes time and can feel awkward at first, so we may need to give ourselves a little reassurance and remind ourselves that we’re worth the effort!
Take good care of yourselves,
Ileana
Ileana Arganda-Stevens, AMFT #99821
she/her
Supervised by Ivy Griffin, LMFT #51714
Thrive Therapy & Counseling
thrivetherapyandcounseling.com
hello@thrivetherapyandcounseling.com
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