This is in follow-up to our article about coping with strong emotions while writing papers for court.

Sandra Brown brings to our attention the need for self-regulation so that the reactions aren’t so extreme that it takes days out of our lives just to recover. Here’s her guidance from Turning Down the Speed:

Adrenaline makes you move faster, and the faster you move the more the mind/body thinks you are in danger and gives off more adrenaline. It’s a vicious cycle until you slow down to break the cycle by moving slowly so the brain slows down, by breathing deeply instead of panic panting. It all begins by doing one thing: slow down your body so it slows down your mind.

When else is the body slow? Oh yeah, naps. Sipping tea, reading a book, holding a child, petting a dog. Buddhist monks wash dishes by hand to slowly wipe each plate and gently rinse, feeling the warmth of the water. Walking from room to room is done as if they are in a labyrinth. Food is eaten as if it is the eucharist. A bell is rung as if it’s a symphony. A scent is smelled as if it’s a baby. A car is driven as if performing heart surgery.