31/12/2025
Start the new year 2026 with Grounding.
is Grounding?
Grounding is "bringing your awareness" back to the present moment through your senses. When your brain starts dwelling on worries, experiencing anxiety, or having a panic attack, this technique helps shift your focus from your anxieties to what's in front of you, allowing you to feel safe and in control again.
The main goal: Not to instantly eliminate stress to zero, but to "reduce its severity" and "regain self-control."
1. Key Technique: The 5-4-3-2-1 Formula
Proceed through the senses in order from "easy to difficult" to gradually regain focus level by level:
- [5] Sight: Look for 5 objects around you and name them (e.g., lamp, potted plant, book).
- [4] Touch: Touch 4 objects and notice their textures (e.g., the softness of the sofa, the coolness of the marble table, the surface of the phone case).
- [3] Hearing: Intentionally listen to 3 sounds (e.g., the sound of the fan, birdsong outside, the sound of the refrigerator running).
- [2] Smell: Try to distinguish 2 smells (e.g., the smell of coffee, the smell of soap on your hands).
- [1] Taste: Recognize 1 taste (e.g., the taste of toothpaste in your mouth, or the taste of your last meal).
2. Breathing Technique (Physiological Sigh)
Dr. Thaniy emphasizes that this is important during stress or panic attacks. "Don't focus solely on deep breathing," as this may cause dizziness due to alkalosis.
- The secret formula: Take two short breaths in (huff-huff) -> then "exhale deeply" (count 1-8 seconds).
- Focusing on long exhalations stimulates the nervous system, promoting relaxation.
3. Muscle Relaxation Technique
Use the "tense to relax" technique, starting with:
- Shrugging your shoulders as high as possible, holding for 1-10 seconds.
- Immediately releasing your shoulders while exhaling deeply.
- Repeat with other movements, such as clenching your fists as tightly as possible and then releasing them.
4. Cognitive Grounding
If you have a higher level of concentration, try using your logical brain to stop distracting emotions:
- Spell your name backward.
- Subtract 7s in your mind: For example, subtract 7 from 100 repeatedly (100, 93, 86, 79...)
🥰Meet us at Greenhead Thai Traditional Medicine Clinic, Kamala
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