Dear Lindsey:

I am well-enough, considering the climate change floods around here,  thank you.

“not doing well..  It’s the dinner with Jason…  I felt embarrassed, hurt, confused, and wanted to get up and leave. I didn’t take control of the situation to help myself.  I didn’t say the things that were on my mind“- it’s not taking care of yourself when you needed yourself to be there for your own self, not taking assertive action: saying what’s on your mind, getting up and leaving.

When we are Frozen in place, feeling voiceless and powerless- we feel all these things you listed. I remember the confused part most of all, when I used to Freeze instead of taking assertive action: it was very distressing for me. The only way to not feel these things is.. well, you know: to practice being there for yourself, to stand up for yourself, to take assertive action. (But not after the fact, by let’s say texting him later, but right there and then, in the restaurant.

anita