How to stay afloat during a “Sea Change” 

*Advice for highly sensitive people who are feeling things are a bit much right now.*

Do you feel like you are adrift, unmoored right now? Like the waves are sloshing angrily around your boat, threatening to upset it? Or are you not even in a boat? Are you barely holding your head above water?

This is for you.

First – pause.  Exhale first, to get rid of stale air.  Then inhale gently.  Exhale thoroughly.  Repeat.  Move your neck and shoulders.  I bet you are holding tension there.

Know this –

You aren’t alone. People all around the world are experiencing this.  It isn’t a divine punishment on you.  You’ve not done anything wrong.

But it sure feels like it, doesn’t it? I’ve got some tips and tricks for you to try out.  Keep what works, discard what doesn’t.

For starters –

Go analog right now, as much as possible. 

Digital media (this includes all sorts of things) has a frequency that isn’t harmonious with the human body.  This is true for music, pictures, and writing that is created by anything other than a human.

This means – print out this post and read it offline if that is possible for you. It is shared online so it may reach whoever needs it, across the world. But it doesn’t have to be read that way.

Go outside and get some fresh air. Say hello to the birds and the tiny insects you encounter.  Admire a flower growing in the yard.  Greet a tree by placing your hand on its trunk. 

Remember you too are part of nature.

Here are some specific suggestions in no particular order.

Right now is a good time to read children’s books or a spiritual text of your choosing.  You simply can’t “digest” anything large right now.

Or just sit quietly, without reading anything. That’s OK too.  

Eat like a bird –

Eat small meals, but throughout the day.  Not three large meals.  Cut your portions in half. 

Eat very slowly, making sure to chew your food thoroughly. 

Stop when you feel full.  Often for me the sign is that I’ll burp. 

Didn’t finish whatever it was? Put it in the fridge (if applicable) and finish it later. You don’t have to “clean your plate” like you might have been told as a child.

Switch to very simple food –

Fish and chips is the exact opposite of what is safe right now. 

Eat less processed foods.  Consume vegetables raw, or steamed, or baked.

Eat things you can SEE what they are – they aren’t filled with chemicals.  The best food doesn’t need a label because you can tell what it is.

If you DO eat processed foods, stick with organic and/or gluten free as much as possible.  Do what you can with what you have. You don’t have to rush out and get all new food right now – I’m sure you have something good in your pantry. 

Soup is usually a good option in times like these. Miso soup is really nice right now, and it is easy to make at home.  But don’t worry about that if you don’t already know how to make it.

Avoid spicy food.  Seasoning is OK – just not spicy.

Beverages –

Water, herbal tea, coconut water, fruit juice (not acidic ones, such as orange juice), almond or oat milk are good choices. 

If you feel you must have caffeine, have green tea or white tea only.  Coffee will wreck you.  Even decaf will unbalance you right now.  Coffee is very acidic. 

———————

Much of this food information comes from the GERD diet.  GERD is caused by acid reflux – so the goal is to reduce acidity in the body. 

Prevention is easier than “cure” in every circumstance. 

Here are other things that help –

Music –

Something calming is usually best, but listen to your soul for what it needs.  As for me I started with Mozart, went to Michael Hedges, and am now listing to U2.  In the past Talking Heads, Vivaldi, and Bach have helped me. I’m sure you’ll find exactly what you need. 

If your body likes, move to the music.  Gently dance or sway.  Don’t whirl around.  

Singing along to the lyrics or the notes is helpful.  Singing is breathwork – which is also critical at this time.  There are plenty of resources on YouTube or at your local library that can help on that topic.

Gentle yoga stretches and poses helps.  Don’t know any? There are YouTube videos.  You don’t have to do a full routine. Just move your body gently.

Think of yourself as a butterfly emerging from its chrysalis. 

Or a reptile shedding its skin. 

Or a boat that is gently correcting its course at sea.

You are going through a monumental change.  And that is a normal part of being a human.  If you’re lucky you’ll get to do it a lot during your life and learn a lot of cool things from the experience.

But the first time can be really scary.

Or if it has been a long time since the last shift. 

You’re OK.  You’ve always been OK.  And you will continue to be OK.

Breathe that truth in.

Notes

(This is a shift in writing style, so take a breath here.)

We, collectively, have experienced TOO MUCH for nearly a decade.  It got to a fever pitch during the pandemic  – which society as a whole seems to pretend like that was just a blip and is chugging right along. It wasn’t a blip – it caused mass deaths, trauma, and social upheaval.  We are collectively experiencing grief – and grief needs to be processed or it will eat you up. 

We’ve had too much bitterness, and not allowed ourselves any sweetness. 

We’ve consumed too much bad news. It is all too much.

Turn off the TV and put down your phone.

You don’t have to keep up with all the chaos that is happening right now.

It will sort itself out.

There are professionals who are already handling this.

That being said – it is totally OK to seek help from a mental health professional and to take medication if they think it is necessary.  Remember – the brain is an organ, just like the heart or liver. Sometimes it gets off – balance, and prescribed medication can assist in restoring equilibrium. 

It is OK to not do everything on your list right now.  Do enough to stay afloat (take a shower, wear clean clothes, eat good food, pay your bills).

But anything extra?  Reconsider if it is absolutely necessary that YOU do it right now.  Can you delegate? Can it wait a week?

Build in some breathing room for yourself.  If you need to, you can tell people you aren’t feeling well and need to take a sick day. You aren’t telling a story – you aren’t feeling well. 

Your heart, mind, and soul deserve tender care just like the rest of your body.

Other suggestions –

Make art.

Scribbling counts. Adult coloring books count. It doesn’t have to be “pretty” or “meaningful” or ever be shown to anyone else. 

Journal.

Writing has been shown therapeutically to help re-write trauma stories in the body.  Get some paper (the cheaper the better) and scribble away. It doesn’t have to be coherent, or even legible.  Nobody is going to read this. Just write whatever you like.

Seek out good friends. 

Think of the folks you know who are calm and not prone to freaking out or catastrophizing.  They are probably in the same boat with you.  This is easier together. 

Remember – otters sleep in the ocean on their backs.  They hold hands as they sleep so they don’t drift apart. 

We can do that too, in a way.

You’ll get through this. Bend like a willow.  Let the strong winds pass through you.  Resistance is indeed futile in this circumstance. 

See you on the other side.

Peace.

Written entirely analog by Betsy Nelson, the morning of Tuesday 4-21-2026.  You may share this offline if you like but include this note. Giving attribution to the author is cool.  And being cool is cool.