Developing Awareness of a Rising Distress Level

AN INTERVIEW WITH: SARAH DOUGLAS, LMFT

Interview

How do you avoid distress?

One of the things that I think is so crucial in helping a person feel some sense of control over how they are living is being aware of their rising distress level. So many people say, I go 0 to 60 in .2 seconds. You don’t really, I can understand why you think so, because avoidance has become second nature. It’s been instinctual to avoid. We’re working against that avoidance. We’re working to become more mindful so that clients become aware of their rising distress. Whether it be muscles in the stomach tightening or face becoming flushed, palms getting sweaty, talking faster, having a harder time concentrating. These all have a tendency to be warning signs. Communication from your body that your distress is rising.

What are the benefits of controlling distress?

When clients become aware of this rising distress, they have an increased ability to intervene and use these different skills that they’re learning. They can maybe essentially come in when they’re at a 25 or a 30 and be able to manage the distress. You get into like the 75 and above. It becomes a lot harder to manage. When distress is that high, your frontal lobe, which is where this information is stored, becomes essentially inaccessible. It’s like it lost internet connection. When distress is lower, they can still access these different skills to de-escalate. That becomes a very, very powerful tool for clients who feel like they just come outta nowhere and I can’t handle it. They start to realize I can handle it.