Low-Energy Self-Care Tips For Trauma Healing
These low-energy self-care tips can help on those days when a person who has gone through trauma is feeling especially drained: 1. The “Nest” Method (Sensory Safety) If you’re feeling hyper-vigilant or exposed, build a physical “nest.” Use heavy blankets (or a weighted blanket), dim the lights, and surround yourself with soft textures. This helps signal to your brain that your immediate perimeter is secure and “closed off” from the world. 2. Temperature Reset When the “mental noise” is too loud, a sharp change in temperature can force your nervous system to pivot. 3. “Digital Minimalist” Entertainment Avoid scrolling social media, which is a minefield for triggers. Instead: 4. Horizontal Stretching You don’t need a yoga mat. You can do gentle stretches right in bed. Try “Happy Baby” pose or simply hugging your knees to your chest. Stretching helps release the cortisol that often gets “stuck” in the hips and lower back during survival mode 5. The “Five-Minute” Rule for Basics If hygiene feels impossible, don’t try to do the whole routine. 6. Nature via Proxy If you can’t get outside, sit by a window for five minutes or look at high-quality photos of forests or oceans. Research shows that even looking at images of nature can lower cortisol levels and help the nervous system settle. REMEMBER, on these days, your brain is working overtime to protect you. Doing “nothing” is actually a very active form of recovery. Have you gone through trauma that feels overwhelming? BOOK A SESSION now and talk to a therapist