Outside The Studio with Tessa Tovar artwork

How to Heal From Stress and Psychedelic Tourism with Erika Belanger

Outside The Studio with Tessa Tovar

English - November 26, 2022 02:30 - 1 hour - 116 MB
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Previous Episode: Rituals as Remedies and How To Start Your Own Practice with Mara Branscombe
Next Episode: The Magic of Houseplants with Rachael Cohen

On episode 75 of Outside The Studio:


Is stress a motivator or the influence that pushes you to achieve or the measurement leading to success? Tessa and Erika Belanger ask what our relationship with stress looks like, how to release that energy, why numbing is not the answer, and scratch the surface on plant medicines.

Erika
is a yoga teacher, stress coach, and the host of the On and Off Your Mat Podcast.

Timestamps

(06:15) Rewiring stress

(11:10) Dealing with stress when we already have practices

(18:30) Numbing

(23:00) Do we really know what we want?

(29:45)
Erika's experience with anxiety

(34:30) Traditional western medicine and mental health

(40:10) Plant medicine

(47:50) Disclaimer on medicinal plants

(49:00) Psychedelic tourism

(57:10) Erika's podcast

Key Takeaways

1.
Healing from stress or anxious thoughts may take several steps.

First, meeting yourself with where you are and what you feel you need to do. Often when we have anger or restlessness we think a calm yoga session will do the trick, but perhaps screaming into a pillow or sprinting up your
driveway will release that energy- let loose and do what feels natural.

Second, shift that energy to the opposite practice; move from punching your soft couch to a playful cartwheel or talking to your plants with encouragement.

Third, anchor that energy with grounding practices
such as breathing exercises and mindfulness.

2. Numbing how we feel is a popular choice to avoid messy problems. This may take the form of binge eating, shopping, substance use, and more. However, ask yourself if you feel better afterwards or where this will take you. We move according
to how we feel so it is imperative that we know what we are ultimately after; is numbing getting you the wanted result?

3. Knowing what you value and want out of life can be a big question. Start small by asking yourself, "What is it that I actually want for breakfast today?" and
remembering you don't need to rationalize why you want something. You do not need to explain yourself on why you feel something is right for you. This can be further applied to larger things such as knowing your body and what medical treatments are right for you.

4. Do your homework
and consult professionals when trying and exploring plant medicines and psychedelics. It may have opportunities for healing, however there are side effects, dangers, and possible negative outcomes. Integration into and after psychedelic experiences are key for safety and healing; journaling,
meditating, rest and processing with other participants are imperative for understanding your experience.

Connect with Erika Belanger

Website: https://erikabelanger.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/erika.belanger/

https://www.instagram.com/onandoffyourmatpodcast/

Freebie for Stress: https://erikabelanger.com/stressvideo

Connect with Tessa Tovar

Website: https://tessatovar.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tessamarietovar/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tessa-tovar-baa27613

Twitter: https://twitter.com/TBenedicktus

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tessa-tovar-baa27613

Twitter: https://twitter.com/TBenedicktus

On episode 75 of Outside The Studio:


Is stress a motivator or the influence that pushes you to achieve or the measurement leading to success? Tessa and Erika Belanger ask what our relationship with stress looks like, how to release that energy, why numbing is not the answer, and scratch the surface on plant medicines.

Erika
is a yoga teacher, stress coach, and the host of the On and Off Your Mat Podcast.

Timestamps

(06:15) Rewiring stress

(11:10) Dealing with stress when we already have practices

(18:30) Numbing

(23:00) Do we really know what we want?

(29:45)
Erika's experience with anxiety

(34:30) Traditional western medicine and mental health

(40:10) Plant medicine

(47:50) Disclaimer on medicinal plants

(49:00) Psychedelic tourism

(57:10) Erika's podcast

Key Takeaways

1.
Healing from stress or anxious thoughts may take several steps.

First, meeting yourself with where you are and what you feel you need to do. Often when we have anger or restlessness we think a calm yoga session will do the trick, but perhaps screaming into a pillow or sprinting up your
driveway will release that energy- let loose and do what feels natural.

Second, shift that energy to the opposite practice; move from punching your soft couch to a playful cartwheel or talking to your plants with encouragement.

Third, anchor that energy with grounding practices
such as breathing exercises and mindfulness.

2. Numbing how we feel is a popular choice to avoid messy problems. This may take the form of binge eating, shopping, substance use, and more. However, ask yourself if you feel better afterwards or where this will take you. We move according
to how we feel so it is imperative that we know what we are ultimately after; is numbing getting you the wanted result?

3. Knowing what you value and want out of life can be a big question. Start small by asking yourself, "What is it that I actually want for breakfast today?" and
remembering you don't need to rationalize why you want something. You do not need to explain yourself on why you feel something is right for you. This can be further applied to larger things such as knowing your body and what medical treatments are right for you.

4. Do your homework
and consult professionals when trying and exploring plant medicines and psychedelics. It may have opportunities for healing, however there are side effects, dangers, and possible negative outcomes. Integration into and after psychedelic experiences are key for safety and healing; journaling,
meditating, rest and processing with other participants are imperative for understanding your experience.

Connect with Erika Belanger

Website: https://erikabelanger.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/erika.belanger/

https://www.instagram.com/onandoffyourmatpodcast/

Freebie for Stress: https://erikabelanger.com/stressvideo

Connect with Tessa Tovar

Website: https://tessatovar.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tessamarietovar/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tessa-tovar-baa27613

Twitter: https://twitter.com/TBenedicktus

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tessa-tovar-baa27613

Twitter: https://twitter.com/TBenedicktus

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