Let’s learn about the Grounding Techniques that work with your body physically.
In this post, I’m continuing our discussion on Grounding Techniques. If you missed the introduction to this technique, you can find it here. Or the techniques that work with your brain psychologically, you can find them here. Today, we’re talking about the techniques that work with your body physically.
This is the ninth in a series of posts called “Help for Your Stress”. In them, we’ll cover some of the best mental health resources (techniques) that can turn your stress off. While I know that ultimately you’re looking for healing, getting help today to at least find relief is worth it.
So let’s talk about the Grounding Techniques that work with your body physically.
Another way Grounding Techniques work is by working with your body physically. Think of this like working from the outside in.
To work with your brain using physical techniques, you need to work with your body. This will speak to the parts of your brain responsible for your stress. Which means your survival brain (ie. your Brain Stem and Limbic System).
When you’re stressed, it’s these parts of your brain that have decided that something in your life is dangerous. They force your body out of the state of peace (Rest & Digest), into the state of stress (survival mode). And they keep you there until they understand that you’re safe again.
What this means, is that your brain won’t turn off your stress, until it realizes that you’re safe.
This second method of Grounding Techniques is going to work with your body, to speak to your brain that you’re safe. (Like working backwards to reverse engineer the problem). It does this using physical techniques using your body to prove to your brain that your body is safe right now.
There are a variety of Physical Grounding Techniques that work with your body in this way.
Breathwork works by you counting your inhales and exhales, to slow down them down.
When you’re stressed, your body will naturally shorten your breaths, making them shallow and quick. By slowing them down, you’re forcing your body to begin slowing everything down. This signals to your brain that you’re safe now, which helps it turn off your stress response.
Oscillation works by moving your feet back and forth in the running motion. But all from a stationary position (ie. you sitting down).
This action from your body is natural, and signals to your nervous system that you’re getting away from the “danger”. Your nervous system will perceive this as your body doing the job necessary for survival. This will signal to your brain that you’re getting away, and must be safe now. Which allows your brain to begin letting go of the fear of the “danger”. All of this allows your brain to realize that you’re safe and turn off your stress response.
Pressure is done by gentle applying pressure to your legs or arms with your hands. Then focusing your attention on the sensations you feel from that pressure.
By forcing your brain to focus on the physical sensations you feel, you’re forcing it to focus on your body. As it does this, it will begin to realize that your body is safe right now. Which will help it turn off your stress response.
Combining Pressure and Breathwork together, you can amplify the awareness of your safety in your brain and body.
Pressure forces your brain to focus on your body and it’s physical safety. While Breathwork slows down your nervous system, signaling safety to your brain.
The combination of these 2 techniques gives your brain an extra boost in realizing that you’re safe. Which will help it turn off your stress response.
Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT, Tapping) is a fusion of psychology and acupressure. The acupressure part works to calm your nervous system down, which tells your brain that you’re safe. While the psychology part helps your brain focus on something in particular.
As a Grounding Technique, EFT gets combined with either Sneaking Away (Container) or Grounding in Safety. Both of which are psychological Grounding Techniques. In this combination, you replace the traditional psychological phrases from EFT, with the phrases from the other Grounding Techniques.
The fusion of these allows your nervous system to be calmed down (signaling safety to your brain). While at the same time, your brain is focusing on you being safe. This gives your brain an extra boost in realizing that you’re safe. Which will help it turn off your stress response.
This is only one half of the Grounding Techniques. The other half work with your brain (from the inside out). You can find out what they are and how they work here.
If you’re wanting to try Grounding Techniques for yourself, you can find them here.
I guide them in the Stress Release for Christian Women Membership. A library of videos and audios where I guide techniques (including Grounding Techniques) on video for you. This gives you access to stress reduction techniques at home, available on-demand, to use whenever and wherever you need them.
Because you deserve to live and thrive in the state of peace in your mind and body.
I’m praying for you ♥︎
– L aura
