Meditate. Go for a walk in nature.  Find some quiet time. Yeah, right.

These are the standard answers for stress-relief.  But many people who are sensitive, these can be challenging.  Meditation requires calming the mind—a hard thing to do when terrorists are threatening our nation, COVID is keeping us cooped up, and there is no place to be quiet in your home because the kids are cooped up, too, or your spouse is stuck at home playing videos because the business shut down. Add on top of all that financial worries, health concerns and cabin fever, it is nearly impossible to “quiet” your mind.

As a psychic, sensitive, HSP (highly sensitive person), empath, this last year has taken me to my breaking point several times.  I kept breathing, trying to stay calm, to not lose it, to not do something drastic.

Until I did something drastic. 

I broke down.  I cried.  I yelled.  I cursed the powers that be.  I opened my mouth and just made noise until I couldn’t any more. 

And then, amazingly, I felt better.

There is lots of advice about controlling our emotions in difficult times.  Most of it is well-meaning, but often ineffective.

Here is what I have found actually works to release and process that stress:

1.      Rant. Preferably out loud.  But if you can’t rant verbally, do it on paper.  Tell the people who make you mad what you really think of them.  Vent your desires to smash things, to do violence, to burn something down.  Don’t worry, it’s safe.  You don’t really want to do those things, but fantasizing about them and saying them out loud or putting them on paper will help to drain that negativity away and clear the brain fog.

2.      Chant and keen. Whether it is the om mani padmi ohm or just a series of nonsense sounds, chant.  Loudly. If you can’t do this at home, do it in your car, or in the woods, or at the beach where the sound of the surf will disguise your anguish.  Keening is an ancient human way to mourn, to cry out your sadness to the universe. 

 3.     Drum.  If you don’t have a drum, bang on a cooking pot.  If you’re really frustrated, bang on a metal can or 55-gallon drum. If you are not truly angry, just simple drumming can establish a rhythm that will calm the brain, synchronize your heartbeat, and even out your energy field. Chant or keen along with the drum for added effectiveness.

4.      Dance.  Put on your favorite dance music and “dance like nobody’s watching.” I find even a single dance tune of three or four minutes raises my mood quickly and brings up my energy.

5.      Get in the water. Take a hot bath.  Take a hot shower.  Cry in the shower if need be.  Thank the water, tell the water you love it, say compliments out loud: “You feel so good, water.  I love the temperature, water. Thank you!” This not only cleanses the aura, but raises the good vibrations in your spirit, body, and environment. (Read or listen to the books by Masaru Emoto on the powers of water.)

6.      Allow yourself to feel.  We are taught in our society that so-called “negative” emotions are bad.  We mustn’t be angry, resentful, jealous, hateful, bitter.  But the truth is that sometimes we are those things.  Our emotions are very real and need to be honored.  It’s OK to be angry at injustice, unkindness, stupidity and cruelty.  It is not OK to use those emotions to be unjust, unkind, stupid or cruel.  But you can give them voice.  Feel them, express them in harmless ways and release them.  The same goes for your “good” emotions.  Weep for joy, laugh and cheer when something is joyful or triumphant.  By the way, for most sensitives, weeping is a natural response to any powerful emotion. Crying doesn’t always mean sad. I highly recommend The Path of Emotions by Synthia Andrews as a powerful tool to understand, express and honor your emotions—all of them.

We have all been under a great deal of stress.  As sensitives, we not only feel our own stress, but the stresses of everyone around us, maybe even the stresses of the entire world.  Sometimes those emotions we are feeling are not our own, but they still need to be processed.  I hope the tips in this article help you toward better emotional management and bring you greater peace of mind in these challenging times.