The 7 Shadow Outlets for Stress

The Love Psychologist: Transforming Your Relationships from the Inside-Out

This podcast episode focuses on 7 of the shadow outlets that people turn to in times of stress and fear and what they can try instead. Quarantine and COVID exacerbate these tendencies while people are shut-in because they need to have an outlet for their suffering. I've structured these shadow outlets according to the 7 deadly sins, even though I do not resonate with their being sins. This episode covers:

-Pride- and how it goeth before a fall

-Greed- how we use material possessions to ground us

-Lust- why people may have emotional or sexual affairs

-Gluttony- How a desire to consume food, alcohol, or drugs can overtake us and become extreme ways that we find comfort or love substitutes

-Wrath- how anger gets inflamed towards loved ones as an outlet

-Sloth- how extreme passivity and 'checking-out,' does not allow us to be present and to use our gifts

-Envy- How the desire to possess what others have takes our eyes off our own paper and doesn't allow us to possess an attitude of gratitude for who we really are

-How stress impairs our lives

Other desirable outlets to de-stress us:

-coloring books, naps, nature, pets, speaking to friends, exercise, journaling, laughing, creative acts, deep breathing, meditation, reading, cooking, learning, prayer.

Other Resources for Extreme Cases of Stress/Distress:

-Disaster Distress Helpline 1-800-985-5990

-National Suicide Prevention Lifeline- 800-273-TALK

-National Domestic Violence Hotline [phone]

To do relationship coaching with Dr. Sherman, check out her website

For Paulette's related book on challenging your negative thinking, you can pick up a copy of, 'The Gremlin: 10 Tools to Shush that Negative Voice in Your Head.'

Much love to you!