Six Ways to Practice Grounding Grounding is a set of simple strategies that can help you detach from emotional pain

5 SENSES

  • Use essential oils
  • Make a cup of tea
  • Put your hands in water
  • Put your hands in water
  • List 5 things you hear, 4 things you see, three things you can touch, two things you smell, and one thing you can taste

SELF-SOOTHE

  • Take a shower or bath
  • Light a candle
  • Practice self-kindness
  • Picture the voice or face or someone you love
  • Sit with your pet
  • Visualize your favorite place
  • Visualize your favorite place

BREATHE

  • Practice 4-7-8 breathing: inhale to 4, hold for 7, Exhale to 8
  • Loving Kindness Breath
  • Flower Breath
  • Woodchopper Breath
  • Bee Breath
  • Deep Belly Breath

DISTRACT

  • Find all the square or green objects in the room
  • Count by 7s
  • Say the date
  • Think in categories: ex. ice cream flavors, baseball teams
  • Use an anchoring phrase

BODY

  • Lay on the ground
  • Press your toes into the floor
  • Squeeze playdough
  • Touch items near you
  • Take a short walk and concentrate on your steps

OBSERVE

  • Describe an object in detail: color, texture, shadow, light, shapes