Did You Get Sucked Into the Survival Vortex? Here’s How to Get Out and Step Into Your Power

It happened again. You were doing fine and feeling balanced and regulated. Life’s great, and all of a sudden, you find yourself sucked into a pattern you thought was long gone. Maybe you'd been single for a while and now see yourself wrapped up in a toxic relationship. All your personal growth and healing work? It seems to have gone out the window.

You've been working on boundaries, but for some reason, you can’t seem to affirm yourself this week. Someone says something, and you Can’t. Speak. Up.

You wonder what happened, and you’re afraid it will happen again. All the work on yourself seems not to be working, and you’re left wondering why. The answer is simple: I call it the "Survival Vortex." It drew you in. Something happened that triggered a trauma response, and as it happens to the best of us, you dove right into it — into patterns of behavior that were life-saving in the past but not anymore.

The survival vortex is a mental and emotional place. A vibrational pull you get caught in when you step out of your present self and alignment and fall right into an old version of yourself, where behaviors like people-pleasing, overgiving, and self-neglect are the norm.

Stepping into the vortex is easy, and you may even — now that we're talking about this — notice yourself going in and out throughout the day, which is normal.

The vortex itself isn't an actual problem. I think energetically, we coexist with many different vortexes. Survival is just one more. Now, the thing is: I'd love us to dive into other vortexes, like self-love, fulfillment, and peace.

Are you in?

Alright, here are three steps to help you dodge the survival vortex and get back to your center (and step into other magical, healthier vortexes!)

#1 Spot it

Good news: we're on step one already! Right now, you're becoming aware that the vortex exists, and you'll start noticing when you feel the pull.

It’s essential to understand that the survival vortex exists because of past traumatic experiences that led us to develop certain behaviors that once served us. Knowing this, you may begin to spot when you're about to step into the vortex, and why it's happening.

You can spend as much time as you want here because this is one of the most crucial steps. When you learn to really see it coming, it’s more power to you. And it becomes easier to stop the patterns you don't want to fall into.

So, for now, just notice. And when you’re ready, go to step two.

#2 Gently redirect yourself

This is the million-dollar step. How can you catch yourself and redirect once you notice you're stepping into the vortex?

We make this mistake all the time. When we see ourselves falling back into old patterns of behavior we’re trying to eliminate, we shame and blame ourselves.

Huge no-no, and a recipe for disaster. Speaking from experience.

I've been there and still have to be very conscious about this one, to be honest. As someone who was abused throughout childhood and my teenage years, I used to be way too hard on myself, thinking I had to bully myself into changing. Not a good call, I have to admit.

Going gentle is the way. If you catch yourself in the act, gently redirect yourself — no judgment. Only love and acceptance, all the way from the survival vortex back to your center and into the present moment.

#3 Break free

Now that you've got your power back by gently centering yourself, it's time to free yourself from old patterns and step into alignment!

Here is where you work on the patterns you spotted so they stop happening as frequently and start pushing for healthier ones. It’s where you use your awareness and centered vibes to switch behaviors.

I encourage you to journal about your experience, including the noticing part, and ask yourself questions to help you break the pattern. Here are a few examples:

• Who do I want to be in this situation?

• What would the new, updated version of myself do?

• What do I really want?

• What's the healthiest thing to do here?

The important thing is to act from a place of love and in the present moment — not as the old version of you with all the limiting beliefs and self-sabotaging mechanisms. Hold her, listen to her, and, as I said, gently redirect. Then, tap into your SELF and break free by honoring yourself.

Now, the survival vortex has got nothing on you!

But hey, always remember you're human. This is about getting to know your brain, body, and soul and helping you live more in alignment. So, be gentle with yourself along the way, and know that you are not alone, nor do you have to do this alone.

I’m right here with you, cheering you on your journey!

Love,

Erika.

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Inside the GWS program, you'll dive deeper into understanding the survival vortex and learn how to step into the most empowered version of your SELF, to create your dream life with full-on support and accountability.

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