47 When Polarized Parts Steer Your Sleep & Stress Off Course

Calm Nights, Strong Days: A Sleep, Stress, and Resilience Podcast

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How IFS parts play a role in our sleep and stress mini series - Ep 3/8

This is a 7 part series. If you haven’t listened to prior episodes it is best to start at Episode 45.

In this episode, we delve into the intricate world of Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapy and explore how polarized parts can significantly impact our sleep and stress management. 🌙💤

Understanding Polarizations in IFS:

• What Are Polarizations?
• In IFS, polarizations refer to conflicts that arise between different internal parts.
• These adversarial relationships often occur when two protective parts battle over how to manage overwhelming feelings held by an Exile—a part carrying residues from adverse experiences.
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Metaphors for Polarization:

Imagine Tug-of-War Rope:

• Imagine that your internal parts are like two teams engaged in a fierce tug-of-war.
• These opposing forces pull in different directions, sometimes causing chaos within your inner system.
• The goal is to find balance and cooperation between these teams, allowing them to work together harmoniously.

Inner Boardroom Meeting:

• Visualize your internal system as a corporate boardroom. Each part has a seat at the table.
• On One side of the table you have the marketing department that wants money for a big campaign, on the other side sits another department that wants money for a huge build project.
• Both are important and both need the money but there is only room in the budget for one of them. They sit there and argue with one another that they should be the one getting the money.

This is like polarizing parts. They both want to help you in one way or another. BUt together they oppose one another. Causing internal conflict.