Dr. Julie Smith

Yeah. And that's why I wrote the book, actually, this idea that when you're in it, when you're in the storm, what you don't need to hear is someone saying, well, maybe you should have learned to meditate six months ago. You'll be all right now. Right. What you need then is you need someone to kind of, you know, grab you by the shoulders, look you in the eye and say, OK, I know a way through this.

Follow me. Here's what you need to focus your attention on. And here's the next step you need to take. And we're going to take that together. And It's really difficult when you have a flood of emotion because of whatever situation you're in. It's difficult to work out which way is up, let alone what step you need to take.

Follow me. Here's what you need to focus your attention on. And here's the next step you need to take. And we're going to take that together. And It's really difficult when you have a flood of emotion because of whatever situation you're in. It's difficult to work out which way is up, let alone what step you need to take.

Follow me. Here's what you need to focus your attention on. And here's the next step you need to take. And we're going to take that together. And It's really difficult when you have a flood of emotion because of whatever situation you're in. It's difficult to work out which way is up, let alone what step you need to take.

There are these moments of your brain is sending you lots of information in the form of emotion in its attempt to... apply meaning to what's happening and to work out what's happening and what you need to do next. So in that moment, you know, the best thing for our nervous systems is each other and is someone else.

There are these moments of your brain is sending you lots of information in the form of emotion in its attempt to... apply meaning to what's happening and to work out what's happening and what you need to do next. So in that moment, you know, the best thing for our nervous systems is each other and is someone else.

There are these moments of your brain is sending you lots of information in the form of emotion in its attempt to... apply meaning to what's happening and to work out what's happening and what you need to do next. So in that moment, you know, the best thing for our nervous systems is each other and is someone else.

And so I always say, I think I say it in the introduction, actually, you know, the inner world is a bit like a sauna. There is benefits to being there, but only if you don't stay too long. And so if you're struggling, reach out to somebody else, another human being that you trust for connection. And that will be the most helpful thing to you if you have someone in your life like that.

And so I always say, I think I say it in the introduction, actually, you know, the inner world is a bit like a sauna. There is benefits to being there, but only if you don't stay too long. And so if you're struggling, reach out to somebody else, another human being that you trust for connection. And that will be the most helpful thing to you if you have someone in your life like that.

And so I always say, I think I say it in the introduction, actually, you know, the inner world is a bit like a sauna. There is benefits to being there, but only if you don't stay too long. And so if you're struggling, reach out to somebody else, another human being that you trust for connection. And that will be the most helpful thing to you if you have someone in your life like that.

But not everybody has that. But also even the people that have it, sometimes that person isn't with them all the time or in the moments that they most need it. And so that's what this was really about. It's about kind of talking to someone in the moment and say, okay, right, we're in this situation. It is what it is.

But not everybody has that. But also even the people that have it, sometimes that person isn't with them all the time or in the moments that they most need it. And so that's what this was really about. It's about kind of talking to someone in the moment and say, okay, right, we're in this situation. It is what it is.

But not everybody has that. But also even the people that have it, sometimes that person isn't with them all the time or in the moments that they most need it. And so that's what this was really about. It's about kind of talking to someone in the moment and say, okay, right, we're in this situation. It is what it is.

here's here's how we deal with this moment find some calm find some clarity and then work out which way we get through this because the only way is through it if as soon as you numb all that emotion well that's all information for you so if you numb it you're not going to be able to use it but it's just it's not easy to kind of work out in the moment because life is complex and it throws stuff at us right

here's here's how we deal with this moment find some calm find some clarity and then work out which way we get through this because the only way is through it if as soon as you numb all that emotion well that's all information for you so if you numb it you're not going to be able to use it but it's just it's not easy to kind of work out in the moment because life is complex and it throws stuff at us right

here's here's how we deal with this moment find some calm find some clarity and then work out which way we get through this because the only way is through it if as soon as you numb all that emotion well that's all information for you so if you numb it you're not going to be able to use it but it's just it's not easy to kind of work out in the moment because life is complex and it throws stuff at us right

Yeah. And some people are able to do that individually and kind of sit with it and listen to it and be with it. And other people need support to do that because it feels dangerous. It only feels comforting if your body feels a safe place to be. So for some people, that's not the case. And it's terrifying and leads to all sorts of unhealthy strategies. But

Yeah. And some people are able to do that individually and kind of sit with it and listen to it and be with it. And other people need support to do that because it feels dangerous. It only feels comforting if your body feels a safe place to be. So for some people, that's not the case. And it's terrifying and leads to all sorts of unhealthy strategies. But

Yeah. And some people are able to do that individually and kind of sit with it and listen to it and be with it. And other people need support to do that because it feels dangerous. It only feels comforting if your body feels a safe place to be. So for some people, that's not the case. And it's terrifying and leads to all sorts of unhealthy strategies. But

So that's when it can be really helpful to do that with someone else who can kind of guide you through listening to that. And then when things get too much, kind of pulling back a bit and coming in again. And, you know, these things can be done really carefully and piece by piece. And by teaching some of the skills to begin with, to cope with how distressing that can really be.