Noticing Reactions

[xleste]

I found myself talking to someone this evening about that last couple days on the playa and hearing my reaction and how quickly the emotions veered towards upset - and yeah, it really was that bad. :p I can look back and logically say I may have overreacted, AND I can watch my own reaction and see that I'm still reacting very strongly. That sense

Comments

[kirbyk]

Emotional truth is an important thing. If you feel really upset, then you're really upset. If it seems out of proportion to the stimulus, it's probably not just the stimulus's fault. I guess it's important not to take it out on someone who just happened to be the straw that broke the camel's back, but don't minimize your feelings just because they don't make logical sense. That just means you haven't fully encompassed them yet.

And at least I have faith that you'll spend the time to really examine yourself. :)

(There are people who let their emotional reactions go way out of bounds and need a sanity check, but that's not generally your flaw.)

[xleste]

*laugh* Yeah - drawing back from introspection is definitely not my flaw. I'd say over-navel-gazing is the more likely direction! :)

Thanks for the faith. :) It's somehow reassuring to know that my friends know who I am.

sick on the playa

[onemermaid]

I totally get the reactions. I suffered from heat exhaustion last time I was on the playa and felt so sick I haven't been back in 4 years. There is something profoundly disturbing about being in that environment and being sick. Fortunately I had gone alone and was able to ask for help packing my stuff up so I could leave early. I can't imagine feeling stuck, alone among masses, trying to make everything ok for another while dealing with that environment AND being sick. It's just too much. It has taken me a long time to feel like I could go back. I almost went this year. Perhaps next year. Or perhaps my time on the playa is over.

Re: sick on the playa

[xleste]

I appreciate the empathy. It took me a bit to get over the "everyone else seems to be doing okay, but I'm not and do they think I'm wimpy because of it?!" internal dialogue/judgment.

I can appreciate those who enjoy the test of that environment and I'm so clear I'm not one of them!