Don’t Scratch That Itch

Welcome to your recovery.

You may find yourself in a weird stage of life right now.

The worst is over, and the best is yet to come.

The adrenaline of the stress, worry, and drama has faded, and while you are relieved of that truth, you feel downright itchy.

It's like you are withdrawing and coming down from it all.

Sure, you're happy the choice was made, the problem was solved and the storm has passed.

And yet.

In this post-apocalyptic pause, you find yourself itching for your next fix, like some adrenaline junky.

It's understandable; you've been through a lot, and it all required a ton of focus and energy.

The quiet after a big moment - good or bad - can feel surprisingly itchy and unsettling.

I've noticed that my desire to scratch and relieve that itch can cause more harm than good.

For me, scratching can mean overreacting or getting involved to try and fix drama that isn't my business or responsibility.

Scratching might mean rushing to do something else as quickly as possible to avoid and deny the anxiety-inducing itching.

Perhaps I might try to overeat or drink to make the itchies go away, only to make them worse with anxiety and shame.

Sometimes, I try to get as busy as possible, increasing my stress and cortisol by becoming over-involved to scratch my itch and boost my adrenaline.

Sometimes, I'd even try to retell or reignite the problems that have already been solved or extinguished.

Silly, right?

None of those things have or will ever make the itch go away.

So what do we do while we come down from it all?

I can almost hear my Mom's voice of wisdom yelling, "Just leave it alone!" just like she did when I would pick at my booboo after I fell off my bike for the 100th time.

I know it's driving you crazy, but scratching and picking will only worsen that itch.

Running from it isn't going to help, either.

This is where God comes in.

God can soothe our anxious, itchy minds and help us find relief.

Remember when we talked about NBAK on our Journey From the Ashes?

Maybe we can apply that wisdom to help soothe our itchy minds.

Let me share that info again:

NBAK

Notice

Breathe

Acknowledge

Kindness

Notice the itching. Be curious. Don't scratch or react. Get quiet and notice what is happening in my mind and body. Hmmm, why is this upsetting me so much? I sure am triggered and itchy. I wonder...

Breathe. Deeply. In through your nose and out through your mouth. Stress causes you to unknowingly start taking short little breaths, which causes carbon dioxide to go to the brain, making things worse. Deep breathing, especially the deep exhale part, helps calm the brain. This is my simplistic way of understanding the brain stuff; experts or the internet can explain it better than I can. Breathe slowly and deeply again and again until you feel quieter and calmer.

Acknowledge. Name how you are feeling and claim it. Don't deny it, don't hide it. If you are scared and feel itchy all over and like your heart is going to beat out of your chest, admit it. No shame in that at all. Bringing the light to the darkness we feel can make all the difference!

Kind. Be kind to yourself. Talk to yourself like you would your children or your dearest friend. Use extra empathy and the sweetest voice you can muster. Picture God talking to you with loving-kindness. It's understandable you feel itchy and scared after all you've gone through. It's okay. You are going to be okay. Let that kindness be the balm that soothes your itchy achiness.

Don't scratch or run from the itch.  

Just leave it alone (Mom’s always right) and rest for a while. You can handle this. It will get better every day, I promise.

Let God soothe you; in no time, that itch will be gone and you'll be able to follow forward free and clear!

Lamentations 3: 28-30

When life is heavy and hard to take, go off by yourself. Enter the silence.

Bow in prayer. Don't ask questions: Wait for hope to appear. Don't run from trouble. Take it full-face. The "worst" is never the worst.

James 1: 2-4

Consider it a sheer gift, friends, when tests and challenges come at you from all sides. You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors. So don't try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do its work so you become mature and well-developed, not deficient in any way.

Psalm 46:10

Be still and know (recognize, understand) that I am God.

I will be exalted among the nations! I will be exalted in the earth.