A is for Adrenal Fatigue, Alienation, and Avoidance

Cortisol is essential for our fight-or-flight response. Some stress is good for us, but continuous stress isn't, When you have no reprieve, you are exhausted from the moment you wake up; until the moment you go to bed.

Creating space a sacred space is vital.

As you start healing create a self-care routine. Staying in your body is crucial, your mind has been tricked by their manipulation.

Connecting with nature is beneficial, being outside, walking barefoot to connect with the earth. Learn breathing techniques to use throughout the day, calming your nervous system. Try this simple practice; breathe in for a count of eight, hold your breath for eight, and then exhale for a count of twelve.

Other techniques are; taking a warm bath with Epsom or Celtic salts, which provide essential minerals like magnesium. I found this helped me in the evening as part of a bedtime routine and helped break the rumination loop I was caught up in.

Adrenal fatigue affects many trace minerals in the body. Salt intake is important, and incorporating Celtic sea salt into your diet or bath can be beneficial. Magnesium, another crucial mineral, is often depleted by stress.

Understanding your sleep patterns could help you inner-stand and process what is happening to you.

Normally, we go through 90-minute sleep cycles, but adrenal fatigue can disrupt this, flipping the natural cortisol release schedule and making it difficult to fall asleep and wake up refreshed. Cortisol is usually at the lowest release point around 2-2:30 am and rises around 8 am.

You might find yourself wide awake at bedtime despite feeling exhausted and struggling to wake up in the morning. This cycle can become a vicious loop, affecting your overall well-being.

Other symptoms of Adrenal Fatigue you may experience are shortness of breath, dizziness, and cravings for salty or sugary foods. Taking proactive steps to manage these symptoms can make a significant difference in your recovery.

A is for Alienation

Alienation is a tactic used by emotional abusers, isolating you from friends and family. This manipulation tactic can make you question your relationships and trust only the abuser, giving them control over your life.

In families, a parent might influence a child's relationships with others, maintaining control over their life and making the child dependent on them.

In romantic relationships, an abuser isolates you to prevent others from exposing them.

Empaths, in particular, are vulnerable to this manipulation, as they often seek to help and heal the abuser, recognising their wounds. However, their empathic nature can trap them in toxic relationships.

The abuser's goal is to break you on every level – emotionally, mentally, physically, spiritually, and financially. They may move you away from your support network, making you dependent on them and leaving you with no one to turn to when the relationship inevitably ends.

A is for Avoidance

Avoidance is a behaviour used by abusers to withdraw from situations or relationships, reducing the risk of rejection or accountability. It can also prevent criticism and exposure of their true nature.

We all have access to this behaviour. Have you ever been confronted with a situation that you were not comfortable with, it might have been talking to a group of people or going to the dentist. You may have tried to find reasons not to attend, but you were aware of why you needed to.

When AVOIDANCE is used in a dysfunctional way, it is to take CONTROL of another person’s life.

Abusers use avoidance to make you feel frustrated or confused. You might find yourself forced to choose between the abuser and your friends or family. Politicians often employ this tactic by avoiding direct answers to questions. Recognising avoidance can help you navigate post-abuse confusion and hurt.

After leaving an abusive relationship, you might struggle with closure and self-doubt.

Grounding and breathing techniques can help regulate your nervous system and calm your mind. Honest conversations help you challenge what you've been told.

Creating a safe space will signal to your body it's time to relax.

This non-verbal communication is powerful, helping you step out of survival mode.

Lack of closure keeps you trapped. You may find yourself trapped by rumination or the trauma bond. Grounding and breathing techniques can help you stay in your body, your mind has been manipulated to believe the truth is a lie and the lies they told you were the truth.

Understanding adrenal fatigue, alienation, and avoidance can empower you to take control of your healing journey. By creating a safe space, recognising manipulation tactics, and practising grounding techniques, you can break free from the cycle of abuse and begin to live the life you were born to live.

Explore the resources on my YouTube channel, here on my website, my podcast The MindFuckery Podcast and this blog. You can also work with me directly.

So welcome along to the journey of a lifetime, you might feel like you are on a rollercoaster at the moment; you experience powerful and extreme emotions.

As I said, I believe we're here to heal on a deep level, changing not just our lives, but the lives of our children and our children's children.