When we notice someone feeling overwhelmed, stressed, anxious, or disassociated through a response to trauma, they can feel spaced out, not present, stuck in the trauma, frozen, or they might be staring into the distance, eyes looking glazed over, or go into daydreaming.
Maybe you recognise these signs within yourself or someone you know?
There are several techniques that we can use if we notice ourselves or another doing this.
Open your eyes and see the Beauty.
Take a look at your favourite pictures, or inspirational pictures, go outside and look at the beauty that surrounds you, think about the places you would like to visit, and look them up.
Soothing Sounds
Listen to uplifting music, podcasts, or audiobooks, fill yourself full of words that soothe your soul, sounds of singing bowls, oceans, or waterfalls help to calm the nervous system.
Draw in Beautiful Scents
This might be your favourite perfume, the smell of your food cooking, or a beautiful candle, or maybe its the smell of the ocean or the forest, whatever smells you love, bring them in.
Tantalising your Taste Buds
Cook your favourite food or go out for a delicious meal, or make a tasty tea like ginger or peppermint.
Touching and Feeling
Hug a friend or loved one, your favourite teddy bear, or a soft blanket or rug, wrap a warm blanket around you and snuggle up on the couch, or down on the floor.
Breath Work
Breathwork is a great technique to bring you back into your body, and into the present moment, there are several breathwork techniques including Wim Hof and Breath of Fire. One simple technique, that is popular is square breathing you can see an example of this here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tEmt1Znux58 Simply breathing like a box, breathing in for 1-5 counts, holding for 1-5 counts, exhaling for 1-5 counts, and holding for 1-5 counts, and repeating this several times until you are feeling a sense of calm and presence within the moment.
Emotional Freedom Tapping is also an amazing technique, that we just love to share, which helps to diffuse intense emotions quickly and effectively. To watch the instructional video, and download the tapping template, click here: https://www.hybridgroup.com.au/emotional-freedom/
These techniques are so helpful to bring someone out of a disassociated state and back into the present moment or to calm intense emotions or feelings.
If you are struggling with stress, overwhelm, anxiety, disassociation, or managing trauma please feel free to reach out for a confidential discussion on how we can assist.
We hope that these free resources help you or others to experience relief and a sense of calm. If you find these tools and techniques helpful, please share and invite others to join our community.
You can join us here https://www.facebook.com/groups/readytohealyourheart
Much Love
Loretta
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