What is Grounding?
Grounding is a set of simple strategies to detach from emotional or physical pain. Eg anger, sadness. It works by focusing outward on the external world rather than inward towards the self. You can also think of it as a distraction, centring, or a safe space.
Grounding Techniques
When to do grounding?
· You are overwhelmed with emotional or physical pain
· you need a way to detach so that you can gain control over your over your feelings and stay safe.
· You are in a public place and are feeling anxious or distressed.
Counting Colours
I find this one so helpful when I’m out as it’s really easy to remember, and just helps ground you into the moment. It seems really simple but really effective in aiding you calm your mind when you feel anxious out and about.
Look around you at the different colours you see and count number of each colour; e.g. how many blue objects can you see?
5 senses
Again this is a really simple grounding technique but works really effectively. If I find it hard to think of things, I just make up five things I’d like to see, or two smells I’d like to smell; e.g. chocolate, or lavender. 5 things you can see, 4 things you can touch, 3 things you can hear, 2 things you can smell, 1 thing you know to be true/fact.