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Brain Fog and Avoidance and Compaction


Brain fog is a great way to describe the feelings of disassociation or the pulling away that can happen with PTSD or a coping mechanism when under stress.  This term explained to me by a friend in describing how she feels when overloaded.  Her brain gets in a fog and she is just there.

So as in all things, I googled it.  WOW.  Did I open a can of worms.  Brain fog can be medical, nutritional, cognitive, stress related and even lack of zin, according to one sight.  Too much protein, not enough, copper or food allergies, lead paint, diseases and developmental disability or a result of drug use.  

O.k. enough of that.  I get what she is describing.  It is a way of avoiding.  Overload of stress, anxiety, sensory input and exhaustion.

In a gardening context, it is when the soil has become compacted and nutrients, water or oxygen cannot get to where it needs to go.  It is pressed, pressured, overloaded....  Try planting a seed on soil that is compacted...it will not survive.

So what do we do in the garden when the soil is compacted?  Take the pressure off!  Don't walk on the soil.  Turn it over and mix it up.  Dig deep.  Ammend the soil and add organic matter that will keep it from compacting again.

My simple solution for a not so simple response to stressors is:

Back off.
Take the pressure off.
Give space in regard to time, expectations and noise!
Dig in and get it all unstuck.  Read His Word and let the Sword do Its work!
Provide what it needs.  Air, water and nutrients and sun.
Give it a little time to settle.
REST.  

 


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