If you suffer from panic attacks or anxiety,
grounding is a practice that can help you pull away from flashbacks, unwanted memories, and negative or challenging emotions.
An example of grounding from Scott Jeffrey:
“You’re walking barefoot on the beach. Feel the warmth of the sun contacting your skin. Listen to the rhythm of the crashing waves. Smell the ocean wind as it brushes through you. Now, notice your feet. Do you feel a tingly sensation in your feet or legs as warmth rises in your body? Perhaps you’ve noticed a similar feeling while walking barefoot on the grass. In those moments, you are grounded. It’s one reason many people are drawn to the ocean.”
According to Scott Jeffrey, being ungrounded is a worldwide epidemic and the root cause of much human suffering.
Being grounded
A person who is grounded is in control of their body and mind. It means being present and dealing with what comes your way every moment. Grounded people are usually calm in stressful situations because they have coping skills to deal with the storms in life. They keep their cool and can assist others who are falling apart.
Being ungrounded
Many people lack the coping skills to deal with difficult emotions and situations. In times of crisis, they fall apart. It is being ungrounded. Being ungrounded can stem from bad childhood experiences, traumatic experiences, or PTSD. One way of coping is to dissociate – or disconnect from difficult emotions- to get through it. At the moment, they feel overwhelmed, unable to calm themselves down or control their thoughts and feelings. Feelings of anxiousness, sweating, and panic ensue.
Part of the healing journey is to learn effective grounding techniques that work for you. It is challenging to deal with problems or process trauma while you are ungrounded.
5-4-3-2-1 Coping Technique for Anxiety
One of the most common grounding techniques for anxiety is the five-senses technique. In this exercise, you identify things you can sense with your five senses. It helps you become aware of your surroundings and can make you feel more connected and in the present.
5: Acknowledge FIVE things you see around you. It could be a pen, a spot on the ceiling, or anything in your surroundings.
4: Acknowledge FOUR things you can touch around you. It could be your hair, a pillow, or the ground under your feet.
3: Acknowledge THREE things you hear. It could be any external sound. If you can listen to your belly rumbling, that counts! Focus on things you can hear outside of your body.
2: Acknowledge TWO things you can smell. Maybe you are in your office and smell a pencil, or you are in your bedroom and smell a pillow. If you need a brief walk to find a scent, you could smell soap in your bathroom or nature outside.
1: Acknowledge ONE thing you can taste. What does the inside of your mouth taste like—gum, coffee, or the sandwich from lunch?
Anxiety Grounding Techniques
There are a lot of different things that you can do to ground yourself when you are suffering from high anxiety. A mental health blogger, Kate White, initially published the list of 21 anxiety-grounding techniques.
Deep Breathing
Take slow, deep breaths from your core and breathe out slowly, imagining your worry and anxiety leaving your body as you exhale. Then, if it helps, slowly count to 5 in your mind while breathing in.
Mindfully Existing
Trace your hands around the physical outline of your body and be aware of your existence in the world. It can help you feel more connected to yourself when your anxiety makes you feel disconnected.
Call a Friend
Call a friend and have a chat. The chat can be about anything, but you should focus on the conversation now.
Change Position
Changing your position can also help you be more mindful of your presence in the present. For example, you can change how you sit, stand up for a few moments, and wiggle your fingers or toes.
Mindfully Eat or Drink Something
Eat or drink something while focusing only on the sensations you have while consuming it. For example, is it hot or cold? How does it taste?
Meditate
Meditation can take many forms. It’s not for everyone, but you might try the various forms of meditation before you knock it. Of course, if meditation is just not right for you, you can also zone out to the television or music to calm down.
Journal
Writing down what is happening right now can help you get the feeling of anxiety out of you. In addition, keeping these writings as a journal can help you examine the triggers of your stress at a later date.
Mindfully Bathe
Take a bath or shower, and pay attention to your actions and how they feel. For example, concentrate on the sensations of the water on your skin or the shampoo on your scalp.
Exercise
Exercise doesn’t have to be planned or extensive. Jump up and down on the spot, do some quick yoga poses, go for a walk, or ride a bike if you’re able.
Hold Onto Comfort
Hold onto something that comforts you. It could be a pillow, a blanket, a stuffed animal, or a doll.
Reference:
https://www.betterhelp.com/advice/anxiety/22-best-grounding-techniques-for-anxiety/
Resources:
22 Best Grounding Techniques For Anxiety | BetterHelp. https://www.betterhelp.com/advice/anxiety/22-best-grounding-techniques-for-anxiety/
Behavioral Health Partners (BHP) – University of Rochester. https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/behavioral-health-partners/bhp-blog/april-2018/5-4-3-2-1-coping-technique-for-anxiety.aspx