Ask Aunt B

Dear Aunt B,

How is it possible to be in a perfectly good mood and then all of a sudden want to rip someone’s head off. I’m not saying really rip their head off but just to be so irritable. It doesn’t happen a lot but it confuses me. Any help?

All of a Sudden

Dear All of a Sudden,

I have experienced this as well. It’s not very comfortable, is it?

Imagine being on the other end of the conversation, talking away all sweet and then all of a sudden the mood changes dramatically.

When this has happened to me and I look back over the situation, I usually realize that it isn’t as sudden as I thought. I usually have been triggered by something. That something could be very innocent. It usually is more about me than about anything the others involved have said or done. It also usually has built up. When I look at things that have happened directly in front of the circumstance, I can see small little erosions to my perfectly fine mood.

The other component that is usually involved is I’m hungry or I haven’t had any water. It is important to realize that our body system does really need nutrition and hydration to operate at its peak. Blood sugar drops and hormones fluctuate in ways that I am not knowledgeable to speak on. Talk to your healthcare provider if this becomes a regular experience. On your way remember to eat some good food and I always carry good clean water with me wherever I go. I personally think we rely a little too much on protein bars. I do think they are glorified candy bars but they sure are convenient and can easily be available. I try to always have one available.

If you have physically taken good care of yourself, then start to look at your thoughts. This is where I usually find my answers. More likely than not, I have started to speak poorly to myself. I have begun the “beat myself up” routine for whatever is going on or lingering in my head about any one of a zillion crazy things. Examples usually start with my disappointments with my behavior (I haven’t exercised; I have gained weight; I haven’t accomplished enough) - whatever my negative self can search and find in my brain). Remember what I always tell you about “You can never beat yourself better”? Well guess what Aunt B still tries, and I can report to you that IT STILL DOES NOT WORK.

I think the best plan for conquering this little devil is to take good care of yourself. Sounds like a broken record, I know, but it could very well be the answer to all the questions I have ever received.

Why is the fact that we need to take care of ourselves so hard to grasp and to implement? I think it is because we all have ignored ourselves for so long and our body keeps on working. Well babycakes, I’m here to tell you that take is a lie. Even for young ones, your body is not working as well as it could if you started taking care of yourself. And the body is keeping score of all those times when you ignore your body and your self care.

If this behavior continues to bother you, I suggest you may need to explore some attention to old traumas that you might be triggering and work through the issues. Never hurts if you need to get some professional help with this. I think next week we will talk about traumas. We have all had them you know.

Love,

Aunt B

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