grounding techniques

[does-the-NHS-work]

I would like to share my understanding of grounding techniques that help my mental health, It was pointed out to me that I ruminate.

Rumination is a deep thinking constant and repetitive thoughts, normally this thinking goes over and over in the mind, to the point it can stop you from being in the moment, detachment from reality, this is/was one of my issues.

Dealing with an illness such as fibromyalgia is deliberating, it took over my mind, bringing me down to the point I wanted to scream, I could see no way out, the constant pain, the constant focus on my pain, the feeling I was out of control, but what I learnt was these very thoughts drove my pain and misery.

Grounding helps me to bring my focus back to me, the real me, where I am, what I am feeling right now, grounding takes me away from the constant nightmare in my head, over time this has become a norm, I find it simple, yet extremely powerful, so powerful that I can regain control. I hope you find this helpful.

youtu.be/5a88mUAzNLk?list=P...(Not working as expected?)

[Hidden]

I have been doing grounding for years, but I recently had a 12 week course with a psychologist pain specialist, he taught me a lot more about how to focus on my pain, similar to counting, you also channel your mind down into the pain, you imagine something soothing it, like heat, or you imagine that a soothing infection, which I use to have is easing the pain, and taking yourself into a place of calm and warmth, there are so many techniques to this, but over time, your brain starts to work with you, as you y channeling the pain, and not concentrating on it.I am really glad it is helping you, that mind racing is so annoying and takes you back to places where you don’t want to be.

Good luck with it all.

Take care. X

[Gigiruth]

Thank you for this lovely post.Yes very helpful.

Grounding and nature have helped me so

[Jaycee18]

Being in control of the fibro rather than it being in control of me definitely resonates and I’ve always tried to do this through exercise, healthy living, supplements etc.

It is very easy to get sucked into over thinking things that have happened and negative thoughts when you are in such pain and also I am often quite frankly bored and lonely now that I have given up work.

Meditation and mindfulness have been helpful but I haven’t looked into grounding. Off to Google now. Thank you.

[Purplebluebell]

Really helpful advice. Thank you!

[JayCeon]

My wife suggested grounding for racing thoughts when trying to sleep too, but it doesn't seem suitable, cos the environment wakes up rather than calms, at least me. So the Yoga Nidra body scan and inner ('dream-like') images are better for me for sleep.

For grounding I use the one similar to the first, but just 5x things I hear, 5x see & 5x feel each, repeat, or reducing to 4 then 3 etc, then repeat from 5x. Another difference I prefer: if you only hear one thing, you can just focus on and repeat that, even 5x, until you notice something else. I can't imagine not hearing anything, like she suggests, even your heartbeat and other internal movements of your body (throat, gut) or the "tinnitus" noise in our ears would add to birds, cars etc.

Not sure if the 2nd exercise with the hand outline is right for me, but maybe she's just explained it a bit too detailed.

Anything that adds to our toolbox, whether for ourselves or others, right?