I was reminded a couple days ago how much our emotions are tied to our bodies.
I landed home at ORD Wednesday night after 21+ hours of travel, Athens to Istanbul to Chicago. I had been gone 11 days co-leading Northern Seminary’s New Testament study trip through Turkey and Greece. I went on the trip as a student in 2018, and it was a whole new experience going on a similar trip now as a teacher. I’ll share more about the experience (with lots of photos!) as I process it. Meanwhile, you can see a some of my favorite pictures on my personal Instagram @bcastlemiller.
After a couple days at home, I still felt disoriented and foggy. Usually jetlag is worse going toward Europe than going toward the US, but it hit me harder on the return this time. Partly I think that’s because the travel exhaustion combined with PMS and being overextended/overstimulated/peopled-out. I’m an introvert, and after being “on” around people I need to recharge, even though I loved the people I traveled with. I have been a complete slug the past four days.
I felt terrible, emotionally, and at first I couldn’t understand what was going on. I had had a wonderful trip, so professionally and personally fulfilling. My family was glad to see me when I got back (my cat was mad I left him for so long and peed on my side of the bed after I got home to communicate *his* emotions). I realized nothing in my life was causing these uncomfortable emotions, but my body was very dysregulated.
I reminded myself to be patient, not to panic, and to first pay attention to my body’s needs. I made a meal plan and ordered groceries. I ate some vegetables and protein. I drank a ton of water and slept a lot. I went to the gym.
I cleaned the kitchen and did laundry and ran errands and re-engaged in my home life.
I rested and read a light novel and stared into space and did nothing.
I also paid attention to my inner world and had a session with my therapist.
One kid is off to their first sleep-away summer camp and the two youngest are at summer day camp in town. The silence in the house is helping *immensely.*
This morning, on the fifth day after getting home, I feel almost normal. Nearly back to regular energy levels, able to focus, able to start on my task list for the week.
I feel more comfortable emotions today.
It reminded me how very PHYSICAL and embodied our emotions are. Our minds construct our emotions in part from our physical feelings, and our body’s condition has an impact on our emotions.
If you feel emotionally blah or down today, check in with your body and see what it needs.
So appreciate your heart, writing ministry, and the blessing you are to the body of Christ, Becky!!
This realization was really helpful for me in becoming more aware of my emotions. I can just check in with my body and see what's going on! This post is a helpful reminder, too, that it flows both ways - our emotional experiences affect our bodies, but our bodily experience can also affect our emotions. I'm reminded of when the prophet Elijah was so depressed he wanted to die, and God's answer was to give him some food and some sleep. As I've seen a few people say, "Never underestimate the spiritual power of a snack and a nap."