The Psychology of Feeling Safe: 6 Tips to Feel a Sense of Safety

One of the basic needs we humans have is safety and security, and I’m not talking about just physical safety. Emotional and mental safety is also one of the most important needs we have. If we’re always on edge and anxious, how are we expected to thrive and live a comfortable and fulfilling life?

We all have insecurities and our insecurities indeed hold us back from a lot of things. However, that’s not all that insecurities do. When you’re always worried about your safety, emotional or otherwise, your body is constantly in high-stress mode. That means that it’s getting a steady supply of cortisol, the stress hormone.

When that happens, our body goes through physiological changes and while a little cortisol never hurts anyone, constant production of the stress hormone can be unhealthy in the long run.

If you’re living with chronic mental health disorders, anxiety disorders, personality disorders, and even trauma, then you may find it hard to feel a sense of safety. This is because the disorders and their symptoms make it harder for your body to control the stress response and as a result, you’re always hyper-alert and aware of every kind of danger around you even if it doesn’t exist.

It sounds frustrating and exhausting, doesn’t it? Well, there are ways you can feel a sense of safety and say bye-bye to unnecessary stress and anxiety. The below-listed ways may help you temporarily, but cannot replace professional treatment.

It is recommended that you speak to a professional if you’re struggling with chronic stress or any other disorder that is causing you to lose your sense of safety and security.

How to Find a Sense of Safety?

1. Create a Peaceful Haven

Look around you and notice what you see and feel. Consider the environment you’re in; is it clean or cluttered? Did you know that cluttered spaces can make you feel more anxious and stressed? To find a sense of safety, try to create a peaceful environment. When you can see a clean space, your brain will have fewer threats to be aware of.

The same goes for people. Try to let go of toxic or negative people who amplify your stress and anxiety to feel safe emotionally.

2. Keep Yourself Busy with Activities

When you focus more on an activity, it helps you work off the worries in your brain. Sitting idly and worrying can never help your brain feel safe, but when you’re busy with activities that you enjoy, you can feel a sense of safety. You can do any activity that keeps you from dwelling on your worries and anxious thoughts.

The idea is to feel less anxious and vulnerable. You can try to exercise to produce endorphins or other happy hormones, do some puzzles, or watch some interesting and motivational videos.

3. Address Your Insecurities

When you don’t feel safe, then it means that your insecurities are at the forefront of your mind. Mental disorders often make you believe that you’re unsafe. Trauma can do that too. However, there’s always a source of you feeling unsafe. To work through this, you need to identify and address those insecurities.

Whatever the source of your insecurity is, you can work to resolve it. If you need help, you can also connect with a professional mental healthcare provider and ask for their help to address those insecurities.

4. Reduce Stressors Around You

What we don’t realize is that stressors are around us and we experience them almost every day. Social media, overthinking, overworking, etc. are all stressors that can make us feel on edge all the time. To feel safe emotionally, you need to reduce these stressors in your life.

Limit the amount of time you spend on social media, overthinking, or avoid taking on other responsibilities when you’re already working beyond your capabilities.

5. Reach Out to Your Loved Ones

Look around once more, Do you have people around you who support you, love you, and appreciate you? Is there anyone who you can lean on for emotional support? If not, then find some. You need a strong support system to feel safe enough in a world where you don’t feel safe. Having supportive people in your life can also help you feel less alone in the world.

You can join support groups, community groups, or even volunteer at a shelter or charity you support. Being around positive people can not only provide support but also a sense of safety, which can help you in your healing.

6. Seek Professional Support

If you’re constantly feeling unsafe, insecure, and distressed, it could be more than just a small emotional issue. Losing your sense of safety can be a symptom of a major disorder. If that’s the case with you, then it is strongly recommended that you speak to a professional counselor or reach out to a mental health professional.

A counselor or a therapist can help you learn where your insecurities are coming from, how they’re affecting you, and how you can resolve them. They can also offer resources and tools to help you feel safe emotionally once more.

I hope this blog helped you learn how to feel safe and gain a sense of safety, emotionally. For more, you can write to us at info@calmsage.com or leave a message on social media.

Take Care!