Gillian and Joelle explore the theme of being humans in helping professions, and especially in schools when it can be important to stay “on” and present as fully regulated when in front of students.  When we are experiencing big emotions but can’t show them, this can contribute to something called “allostatic load,” or the stress response our bodies and brains have to try to address a problem and come back to homeostasis.  Joelle and Gillian consider an “emotional parking lot” to remind us of big emotions that we needed to “put somewhere else” during the day but may still need a chance to turn toward and feel before day’s end if possible.  Joelle and Gillian also review the theory of “allostatic load” in general, and how compassionately noticing, turning toward, and offering some form of completion to our personal “road signs” of fight flight or freeze responses can bring us back to homeostasis more than chronically avoiding these can do.

Here's the awesome book we mention during the episode:

https://www.powells.com/book/-9781984818324/7-2?gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQiAz6q-BhCfARIsAOezPxn0B9TRewy-G3rkTMIkiF2uP28q05CnyMeEnLydl1FA3W3xkXE3wYAaAjNbEALw_wcB

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Gillian: https://www.instagram.com/clearconnectionpsychology/

Joelle: https://www.instagram.com/joelle.vanlent/