Anxiety is a primal human experience to anticipate and prepare for threats, which can serve as a good thing. However, too much anxiety can quickly turn into mental health issues and can disrupt your daily life, relationships, work, and more. Anxiety can feel different for everyone, luckily, there are some very effective and scientifically proven ways to help us become more grounded, balanced, and in tune with our bodies. Here are 5 Grounding Techniques you can utilize to self-regulate when life is feeling out of place:
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Grounding/Earthing Techniques
Grounding, also called Earthing, is a therapeutic technique that connects people to the Earth’s natural healing energy. This holistic practice relies on earthing science and grounding physics to explain how electrical charges from the earth can have positive effects on your body. Grounding reduces inflammation, pain, stress, and improves blood flow, sleep, and overall energy.
Types of Grounding Activities:
- Walking Barefoot - Get outside and take off your shoes! Notice how it feels to touch the cold grassy earth beneath your feet.
- Lying on the ground - Find a comfortable area on the ground and lay down. Notice the sounds you hear when you silence yourself. Do you hear the birds? The wind? Your heartbeat? Take as much time as you need and maybe even meditate!
- Submersing in water - Have you ever just gone underwater when you were swimming in a swimming pool and just reveled in the silence? Being fully submerged in water just has a different calming presence when you allow yourself to fully relax.
- Using grounding equipment - Ever heard of it before? You can purchase Grounding Equipment such as Grounding Mats or even Grounding Sheets for your bed!
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Connect With Your Body Through Breath
There are so many different breathing exercises out there. A common one you should try is ‘Box Breathing’ where you breathe in for 4 seconds, hold for 4 seconds, breathe out for 4 seconds, hold for 4 seconds, and so on until you feel grounded. When you try to focus on just your breath, this can help other anxious-filled thoughts drift away.
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Stretch Your Body
You can perform light stretches and pay close attention to the physical sensational that arise. What is so great about stretching is that you can multi-task! Do you sit at home binge-watching Netflix for hours? STRETCH while you watch! Or you can even practice your Box Breathing exercises as explained above while you lightly stretch. Combining these two will surely help you reach homeostasis for the mind and body.
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Move Your Body
Exercise is one of the best ways to release serotonin and get your blood flowing! Exercising is a great way to ‘get back’ into your body. Whether it's running or jumping jacks, notice the sensations in your body that can bring you out of a place of panic. Whenever you feel anxious, exercising can be a great tool to release all that pent-up energy!
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Mindfulness Exercises
Mindfulness is all about bringing your focus to the present moment and being aware of your body and thoughts. You can practice guided meditation apps, or utilize the “5, 4, 3, 2, 1 exercise”. This is where you find 5 objects, 4 different sounds, 3 textures, 2 smells, and 1 taste. Bringing the healing art of mindfulness into your life can help bring you back to the present moment when you find yourself stressed and anxious about everything around you.
Are You Inspired to Help Others?
Modern science confirms the long-held belief that we are all energetic beings expressing ourselves physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually. If you desire to make a positive impact and open others up to their own healing power, it may be your call to become a healer.
Southwest Institute of Healing Arts has a powerful Massage Program where you will learn how to be prepared for a position as a professional Massage Therapist who can help others heal in a holistic way. Want to learn more? Join our upcoming ‘Explore Massage Therapy as a Career’ Day here at SWIHA on Saturday, February 12, 2022; from 9 am to 5 pm. Follow your dreams to heal others when life so often feels out of control.
