The Big 6 – Christina’s story
Are you in Survival Mode? – 6 Tips to break the cycle
‘Fight or Flight’ – What is Survival Mode?
Survival mode is the short term, fear based mode of being when the ‘fight or flight’ response is triggered. However, as we all know, this is rarely short lived. We get into a fight and flight cycle on repeat, which can lead to Burnout. People who are chronically in fight or flight mode often don’t even notice it. Being in survival mode & the survival cycle for too long is like a frog being boiled from cold – you don’t notice until it’s too late.
When we’re being fuelled by urgency, relentless pressure and endless tasks, we start running on autopilot. Fuelled by adrenaline and cortisol, we stop thinking, focusing and understanding. There are many subtle symptoms and these are often perpetuated by the workplace – remember you cannot heal the system.
What is the Survival Cycle?
As the pressure increases and the cycle repeats we run out of time. We are so busy being on autopilot and deep in the survival cycle that we don’t even notice what state we’re in. We don’t even have enough time to ask ourselves what our needs are, and certainly not enough time to answer the question!
You have no time to look after yourself, you’re second guessing and your confidence is dropping – because you come second to the other stresses and pressures. I’m not talking spa days or long baths as the answer, but the job of asking yourself a question “what do I need right now”?
I’ve been there, deep in Survival Mode, as a business owner and single mother, feeling completely alone – too much responsibility and not one person to share it with, driving myself harder and harder, with no end in sight and no idea of how to improve my situation.
Until you’re brave enough to ask yourself ‘what is it that *I* need?’, the pattern will repeat.
6 Tips to break the cycle
I hate to break it down, but at its core, burnout is caused by an unhealthy relationship with yourself. It’s not your fault, but you do have a choice.
You must make the choice to put yourself first.
It’s a daily, moment by moment decision. After living in a survival state for so long, prioritizing yourself can feel selfish at first. When you’re head down in the depths, thoughts of letting down your team, of others having to pick up the slack serve only to keep you there.
Taking time for yourself, to reflect on your needs and increase your self-awareness, will give you back a sense of control.
- Prioritise yourself – Choose you
- Ask yourself – What do I need right now?
- Say yes to you and no to others
- Jump out – Get out of any environment that is getting hotter
- Leave relationships that are not good for you
- Eat well, exercise regularly & get a good night’s sleep
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