Closed Door

Jul 1

Written By Viola Mae

Why do I shut down when I feel too much?

You didn’t mean to go quiet.
It just… happened.
The overwhelm arrived, and your body locked the front door.

You’re still there.
Just behind the curtain, listening.
Just beneath the silence, aching.

This isn’t avoidance.
It’s protection.

When emotional intensity rises, many of us don’t explode — we disappear. We shut down, go numb, distract ourselves, or smile through the ache.

This isn’t failure.
It’s adaptation.

A nervous system saying:
“This is too much right now. Let me breathe.”

This card is not asking you to force yourself open.
It’s asking you to notice: What helps you feel safe enough to stay?

What does emotional shutdown feel like in my body?
What usually comes right before I disconnect or go numb?
What small, specific thing helps me feel safe enough to open — even just a little?

The Hand at the Door

Place your hand gently over your heart or belly.

Say to yourself:
“I notice I’ve gone quiet.”
“I honor the part of me that’s protecting me.”
“I can open… slowly… if and when I’m ready.”

No need to rush the door open.
Just sit by it for a moment. That’s enough.

Shutting down isn’t the end.
It’s a pause.
A protection.
A signal.

And every signal contains a door.
And every door remembers how to open.

Too Much?