Bio-HUGS
Emotional distress is always a biological reaction. Your autonomic nervous system is “triggered” and your body is stuck while your brain is trying to figure out if you should run, hide, or play dead. We never stay here, our bodies will recover because we are innately resilient. But for many of us, this feels really scary. To move out of this hijacked state sooner you can ”hug” your nervous system. This is done in ways most of us have never heard of... so try these “hacks” and see what works best for your body. In this practice you will also become confident that emotional distress is not nearly as catastrophic as we think it is!
4 x 4 x 4 Deep Breathing
Inhale deep into your abdomen for a count of 4, hold the breath for a count of 4, blow out each breath as slow as possible, like pushing the air through a straw, while counting to 4. Repeat for 3 minutes. Do NOT overdo it, deep breathing can cause hyperventilation, so after 3 minutes do another bio-hug hack.
Safe Place
Visit a place in you’re your mind that you find soothing and safe... the beach, a park, the mountains, a waterfall, any favorite space that you have actually been before. Focus on each of your five senses in this place— what do you hear, what colors do you see, lick something safe, name objects you touch, smell the air. Where you take your mind... your nervous system will follow.
Where Am I
Using all five senses, describe where you are quietly to yourself like this: "I see grey walls, soft carpet, 2 brown chairs, two black shelves against the wall... I smell pine-sol in the air, I hear people laughing, it feels warm in here, I have a stale taste in my mouth.” Try to name colors, smells, shapes, and notice the number of items. The more details, the better the exercise will bring you out of your left brain (feelings) and into your right brain (logic).
Book Worm Hack
Pick up any book, flip to any page, and read that page from the bottom up. Say each word to yourself, slowly. Otherwise, say each letter in the word S---L---O---W---L---Y. This exercise will bring you out of your left brain (feelings) and into your right brain (logic), the two sides are hardly ever operational at the same time.
Grounding Exercise
Name 5 things you can SEE right now
Name 4 things you can physically FEEL right now
Name 3 things you can HEAR right now
Name 2 things you can SMELL right now
Name 1 thing you can TASTE right now
Music Escape
Listen to Nature Sounds or any Spa Radio station on your streaming App, and while you listen, pay attention to each sound. Imagine a gentle massage moving up your body as you listen, softly reminding your muscles to relax. Start again at your feet, and work your way up again. If you lose focus, go back to focus. Relax. Breath deeply.
Joy Hack
Name 3 things you have to look forward too this week. Distress hates Joy, so bring JOY to your head to push distress out! You MUST write the items down on an actual peace of paper, then keep the paper in your pocket.
Gratitude List
Name 5 things you are grateful for in this moment, you MUST write them down on an actual peace of paper. Work and reflect on your list for no less than 3 minutes. Keep the paper in your pocket all day.
Be Mindful
Content on this website is provided for education and information purposes only and is not intended to replace or substitute direction from a health professional.
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