Our systems are designed to easily go from a state of being mobilized to a state of rest, and from the need to flee or fight to being regulated again.
When our environment isn't safe enough and we don't have the opportunity to allow our systems to resolve a traumatic situation within our nervous systems, we often live as if that situation is still a threat to our well being.
Understanding how the nervous system works, how we get stuck in a pattern of protection, defense or shut down and how to come back into regulation can be very empowering.
These videos explain the basics of the nervous system. I highly recommend watching them.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZdIQRxwT1I0 Trauma and the Nervous System: A Polyvagal Perspective
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LiXOMLoDm68 Peter Levine explaining pendulation
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AFUZHz6_0XE Peter Levine on the Somatic Experiencing Approach and the Concept of Titration
A film about GRATITUDE https://watch.louiechannel.tv/gratitude-revealed/videos/gratituderevealed-watchparty