Steady in the Storm (Part 2): When Emotion Takes Over, Move With It

Surviving the Flood, One Grounded Action at a Time

Right now in Texas, the heat is the least of our problems.

Floodwaters have displaced families, soaked memories, and swept away any illusion of normalcy. But even as neighborhoods recover, another storm is still rising quietly—inside us.

Fear. Frustration. Helplessness.
And when those emotions crest, they don’t just sit still. They surge through your chest, clench your jaw, and churn in your gut like there’s nowhere to put them.

But there is somewhere to put them.

This blog is the second of a 4-part series designed to give you practical tools to regulate these big emotions.  Whether you are impacted by the current floods in Texas or feeling flooded by other life events, these tools are effective and FREE - you can use them anywhere, anytime!

When you’re overwhelmed emotionally, the answer is not to freeze—it’s to move. Hard, fast, and deliberately. Not to run away from yourself—but to stabilize yourself.

This is the second pillar in DBT’s TIPP skill set: Intense Exercise. And in a time like this, it’s not a lifestyle suggestion. It’s a psychological intervention—one you can activate with your own body.

Emotion Demands Motion

When your nervous system is hijacked by stress, fear, or rage, it doesn’t want quiet time. It wants action.

That’s not weakness. It’s design.

The fight-or-flight response was designed for emergencies, not for being stuck in a house with flooded floors and frayed tempers, or for sitting in a shelter wondering what happens next. Your body is screaming, Do something. And if you don’t give it a release valve, that energy can turn inward—into panic attacks, angry outbursts, or shutdown.

So what do you do?

You move. Intentionally. Intensely.
Pushups. Jumping jacks. Sprinting in place. A heavy bag. A stairwell. Use what’s available. The goal isn’t perfection—it’s release.

Why It Works (and Why It’s Worth It)

• You burn off adrenaline.
  When emotion spikes, adrenaline floods your system. Movement gives it somewhere to go.
  

• Your focus sharpens.
  Emotional chaos feels abstract and endless. But catching your breath after 30 squats is concrete. It roots you.
  

• Endorphins release.
  These are your body’s built-in mood stabilizers. They dull pain, boost hope, and whisper, “You’re still in control.”
  

• Your nervous system resets.
  You don’t escape your emotions. You metabolize them—turning chaos into clarity, movement into peace.

Use Caution, Use Wisdom

This tool is powerful—but not one-size-fits-all.

If you have a heart condition, respiratory issues, or other medical concerns, use caution. Movement should help—not hurt.

And remember: this is not punishment. You’re not working out to beat yourself up. You’re moving to bring yourself back to center. Use discipline—not aggression.

Rebuilding Starts with One Choice

If you’re reading this in a borrowed room, a shelter cot, or with one eye on destroyed property—you may not feel strong. But you are.

And even now, you still have agency.
You can choose to move. To interrupt the spiral. To create space inside yourself when the outside world is collapsing.

It won’t fix the flood.
But it will help you show up for your people. It will help you stay grounded in your decisions. And it will remind you that your body—and your response—still belongs to you.

Don’t Do This Alone

If you’re overwhelmed—emotionally, mentally, spiritually—you don’t have to keep white-knuckling it.

Professional counseling is available—even now. Even here.
You deserve support that’s trained, steady, and equipped to walk with you through trauma, loss, and recovery.

Reach out. Whether you’ve lost your home, your bearings, or your peace of mind—we’re here to help you rebuild.

Because the flood may have taken a lot.
But it hasn’t taken everything.
And you don’t have to face this alone.