Posted by Lieutenant Siennadye Nox (Counselor) in Holodeck 2- Cooking with the CNS

Posted by Civilian Jerrin Yeceb (Student) in Holodeck 2- Cooking with the CNS

Posted by Lieutenant Siennadye Nox (Counselor) in Holodeck 2- Cooking with the CNS

(snip)

Sienna had been rambling without much direction, about the particular recipe and her choices, when she noticed the change in the feel of Jerrin. She watched him as she talked for a minute, gauging what he was feeling as she kept her conversation light and meaningless. She noted his heart rate and the way he was breathing. She turned from him and opened the refrigerator, grabbing a bottle. By the time she returned to him, the bottle top was off. She set the glass in front of him, pushing the casserole dish aside.

She poured the contents of the bottle into the glass. Immediately carbonation began, adding tiny fizzing bubbles to the clear liquid. A faint sound accompanied the tiny bubbles popping at the top of the glass. “You are safe here, Jerrin. I would like for you to take a minute and focus on the bubbles in the glass. Breathe. 4 counts in, 4 counts out until all the bubbles are gone.”

His eyes snapped to her, wide and confused. Bubbles? He looked down at the drink and watched as the molecules of gas floated to the surface of the liquid and dispersed.

This process could take several minutes, but it was often a technique used to calm someone in a panic. It might not work for him, but then again, if he had never done it before, he might do as she asked. Some people required touch to relax during a panic attack, but she didn’t want to start there. She kept her voice neutral, almost light. No pressure, just a request.

Nox, CNS

Breathing? She had said something about breathing. He drew in a shaky breath and let it out slowly. Even as he breathed though, he found his fingers curling inward into a fist and he muttered under his breath. “I don’t know…”

~Jerrin

“First breath is always the hardest.” She said, watching him. He wasn’t averse to trying it seemed, but was feeling something very intense and whatever it was made this hard. “Try again. First, we breathe, then we breathe and relax.... So, watch the bubbles and breathe with me.”

He realized that he had answered an unspoken question and one posed in his own head. What was he upset about? He answer was true though. He had no idea. But he forced his quick mind to stop working on that problem and focus on what the counsellor was telling him.

Sienna looked down at the glass of fizzy liquid and breathed in slowly for 4 counts and then breathed out for 4 counts. She didn’t think about what might have triggered this intense feeling, just on the process. Her focus would be his guide. She repeated the process, being loud enough that he could hear her without needing to see her. In through the nose, out through the mouth.

Nox, CNS

Jerrin tried to follow her lead and it felt almost painful to breathe. But each subsequent breath became easier until he was, if not okay, at least no longer panicking. His fist still remained tightly closed.

~Jerrin