Its a cool and rainy afternoon here in rural Colorado. An oddity for late July. It is also a beautiful afternoon to do a little grounding exercise. For those of you unfamiliar with the practice, grounding is technique to help keep someone in the present. Grounding can help to re-orient someone to the present and back into reality. It has been found to be helpful in managing overwhelming feelings and intense anxiety.

I have used grounding in some form on and off for a few years. I most likely have done some form of it, unknowingly, for much longer. I find that an exercise like this is extremely helpful not just during an episode of intense emotional stress, but also as a common practice to help prevent some of the more frequent symptoms of my anxiety.

Grounding Exercises

There are 6 basic grounding exercises; observing, self soothing, breathing, distraction, using your 5 senses, or using your body. Not every exercise works for every person. Not every exercise works for every situation. That is the beauty of adding this to your coping toolbox, its versatile. Most of these exercises are simple, they can be conducted anywhere and without anyone knowing you’re doing them.

Here is a link to a post that has some more information about the various practices. http://www.tothegrowlery.com/blog/2017/4/18/six-different-types-of-grounding-exercises-for-anxiety-intense-emotions

Today I had some practice with my 5 senses. I took advantage of the rain and the cool weather. I made a cup of tea and sat on the porch. I took time to feel the warmth of the mug in my hands, the cool and the wet of the rain on my legs and feet. I closed my eyes and scanned my body, visualizing the temperature differences. Using temperature extremes can help to shift the brain quickly back into reality. I also spent time breathing deeply the cool, clean, fresh scent of rain in the air. Listening to the sounds of the rain hitting the earth, the birds chittering and watching them swoop through the drops. There is something visceral about engaging all 5 senses deliberately. Dare I say, it brought me peace.

In a world that praises speed and is consistently chaotic, loud, and overwhelming, it can be a daunting task to find even a shred of peace or calm. It can be doubly hard when you are also battling the chaos of your own brain. I challenge you, my dear friends, to take a minute or two this week and try out a grounding technique. Try to find one that works for you. It doesn’t have to be big or showy. I keep a rock in my purse for when I feel overly anxious or overwhelmed in a crowded place. I can discretely reach for this solid, tangible object, feel its shape, texture, and weight. This simple act can bring me back to a state of normalcy when I feel like nothing is ok.

Shine your light. Fly your Flag.