Braving the Waves: HALT

Resolvve

Episode Notes

On this week's podcast, Mikaela Brewer looks at the acronym HALT through a poem. HALT stands for “hunger, anger, lonely, tired,” and it is often used as a method for checking in with yourself. For example, when you’re feeling activated or dysregulated, stop (halt) and ask yourself if one of these categories is suffering.

The intention is to support folks in getting to the root of what they’re feeling, alleviating any urge to rely on substances to cope. Though this is a helpful framework, sometimes the boundaries we draw between hunger, anger, loneliness, and being tired either have deeper roots or are a bit blurry.

They consistently overlay and can mean something different to each of our mind, body, and soul. Hunger, anger, loneliness, and being tired can also look different through time, such as throughout moments, hours, days, weeks, or years. This week’s poem seeks to explore this nuance, depth, and overlap.

Here's an excerpt of the poem:

It’s a carpet, you see. Where do my hunger, anger, loneliness, and tiredness live? In my mind, body, and/or soul hungering for earth’s food while on fire with anger, feeling lonely among water life, yet tired of flying through empty airspace crammed with interference. Listen to this week's episode to hear the full poem! If you’d like to share your moment or memory on the podcast, please head to tinyurl.com/bravingthewaves.

Disclaimer: This Podcast and all of our mental health learning and educational content is not therapy and is not a replacement for therapy. Noah and Simon do not take this therapist-client role in any way for Resolvve.

Please seek professional help if needed. Go to www.resolvve.ca to get the support you need.

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