The Pressure

Oct 25, 2025

Written By Dean Steinocher

I have learned over time that I need to change the lens of how I see others. Viewing them as injured and traumatized has reduced my stress levels to a more manageable level. I now view people with empathy. The next tool I use is Box Breathing. Four count works great at slowing my heart rate: 1,2,3,4 breathe in, 1,2,3,4 hold, 1,2,3,4 exhale, 1,2,3,4 and hold 1,2,3,4, repeat.

I can now read the room to assess its safety. When I conclude it is safe I can relax. If that doesn’t work, I excuse myself to go meditate, do yoga stretches if I can. I have found that if I do yoga, pant and/or exercise at least once a week, I am much better suited to deal with life’s pressures and stresses. These tools have not failed me yet.

Explore More Stories of Healing

Compassion on the Sally Port

Compassion on the Sally Port

While visiting my son at prison, I met three adorable kids in the sally port. My guess is that they were 14, 10 and 6 years of age. I learned later that they were visiting their father and wereaccompanied by their aunt. What called my attention to them was how...

read more
Restorative Justice Put Me on a New Path

Restorative Justice Put Me on a New Path

Learning about Restorative Justice is what helped set my life toward truth and authenticity. I have learned to hold myself accountable and welcome other people to hold me accountable as well. My life has always been internally unbalanced after suffering a...

read more
What Trauma Robs, the Community Restores

What Trauma Robs, the Community Restores

Trauma can makes us feel like we don't fit in, like we don't belong, like we're less than others. For a few years of my junior high school experience, I was a loner. It wasn't until decades later, in prison, when I became trauma-informed, that I came to realize my...

read more

0 Comments

Submit a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *