Gut Checks

You know that old saying “trust your gut?” Well, I take it literally.

Having PTSD, anxiety, and depression means my brain is often at best, overreacting, or at worst, flat out bullshitting me.

But my gut never lies.

So I rely on it to tell me what triggers are real and where they’re coming from with regular “gut checks.”

I start with a feeling that something is wrong. Could be a random wave of anxiety, serious mood dip, or my brain refusing to focus on a task.

(On a normal day, my anxiety is a small ache or weight in my stomach, often with slight nausea, which makes for a good baseline.)

I’ll find a quiet and comfortable place to settle into and just breathe for a minute or two, so I can focus and detect small changes in my body.

Once I’ve sat with that feeling for a while, I’m ready to ask my gut questions.

I start broad, usually with “Is it…Money? Work? Family? Marriage? Friends? Upcoming event/project?”

If one of those hits the mark, I’ll feel a small tightening of my gut or flare of pain and I’m ready to go deeper.

In Round 2, I try specific keywords like “therapy session,” “client call with BLANK,” “my sister’s wedding,” or more abstract ones like “not meeting my income goal.”

These gut checks never come with a solution, but having an answer can be a relief in itself.

Sometimes, I’m anxious about upcoming events I can’t avoid and just need to relax. Other times, it’s a warning sign of an episode or bigger worry that must be addressed.

Regardless of the reason, the key is to listen, learn, and respect how my body reacts to stressors. And to trust my gut.

Originally published on Twitter. Follow my #ship20for30 journey here and @leannalost!