PSYCHOLOGICAL FEELING OF SUPPORT: GROUNDING

2024 Author: Harry Day | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 15:43

We human beings are like trees, one end of which is rooted in the earth, and the other is directed to the sky. The strength of the upward drive depends on the strength of our root system. The leaves of the torn tree die off

A. Lowen

From the point of view of psychology and psychotherapy, grounding is a confident, balanced and conscious mental state of a person in the current moment. That is, groundedness is what they call “standing firmly on our feet”. Conversely, when a person falls out of balance due to emotional overload, becomes distracted, or feels as if the connection with reality is lost - the person is poorly grounded.

Grounding methods are used for:

- achieving mental support through the sensation of physical support (in awareness with the surface of the earth);

- the ability to be in contact with the body, emotions, consciousness. That is, if a person overloads the emotional or mental sphere, then he loses the ability to perceive the picture of the world and reality in a holistic manner. For example, in the case when an obsession with certain emotional experiences overshadows the mind and a person loses the ability to think logically and rationally;

- to restore contact with the outside world, to return a person's attention to the moment “here and now”. This can work in cases where a person is too focused on the future or on the experiences of the past.

The main problems associated with loss of grounding:

Weakening awareness and connection with the real world … The weakening of the "connection with the earth" takes a person away from real sensations and contact with the world. Endless wanderings among one's own mental constructions, as well as immersion in the virtuality of the world, makes a person incapable of being "here and now."

Inability to stand firmly on your own feet … An ungrounded person is practically not aware of his legs, does not feel support and strength in them, which leads to the inability to actively and decisively act, to bring plans to life. A person can plan for a long time, but before realizing this in life, i.e. "On the ground" it does not reach the point.

Exposure to stress, loss of emotional balance. An ungrounded person, in any non-standard situation, winding himself up again and again, easily falls into an emotional funnel. It is the inability to stop in time, to release tension through the body "to the ground", thus balancing the mind-body-emotions, that makes him vulnerable.

Lack of resources. Symbolically, the earth is a source of fertility and nutrition for all living things. Having no connection with his own "earthly" element - corporeality, a person is unable to draw strength from everything "earthly". This manifests itself in the inability to notice new opportunities (good circumstances, new proposals, new people, etc.), and in the inability to rationally use what he has.

Grounding methods

Practice "Deliberate walking" can be used at any time when it becomes possible to walk. You need to walk as if you are engaged in research activities, where the focus of attention is the feet. Imagine studying with your feet the relief, every pothole, every pebble. It is necessary to focus on sensations as if the feet are the only sense organ: you look with them, you hear with them, you even think with them. Track the mechanics of your movements, observe what sensations they give. Notice how your feet are on the floor. You can stand up and firmly "grow" your feet to the floor, take off your shoes and step with each foot on the ground or on the floor, feeling as if your feet are the foundation of a building firmly connected to the ground, literally feel the ground under your feet and the power of the earth attraction. The easiest way to ground yourself in stressful situations is to stomp your feet. During this process, a person, as it were, relieves voltage to the ground. Press your palms firmly against a hard wall, resting your body on it. The body should be relaxed. The effect is achieved due to the sense of stability of the position, the tension is dumped into the wall. Massage or pat on the body. The method of mindful contact with the body is also suitable for the purpose of grounding. Through the impact on the body and further sensations of tactile sensors, attention is fixed in the moment "here and now", the contracted muscles relax and the blocked blood / energy is accelerated. A bath with salt works in a similar way. The influence on the sensors returns attention to the current moment, and water helps to relieve tension. Sit on the ground or other firm surface so that you feel comfortable. Take several deep, equal breaths and breaths. 2. Direct your attention to the ground. Keep your attention on the ground, on its firmness and on the close body contact with it. 3. When your body becomes a little heavier, and your mental state is balanced, imagine how a golden cord from your tailbone is directed to the core of the earth and is attached to it. 4. Keep your attention on the core of the earth for a while. 5. Breathe deeply and calmly, naturally, without muscle tension, and imagine how with each exhalation the intense energy from the body goes into the ground, and with each inhalation from the core of the earth to the body comes pure and healing energy of rest. Breathe like this for a while and watch the changes in body and mind. Stay in this state. Body scan. Take a comfortable position on a chair so as not to change your body position for several minutes. As you follow each step of the instruction, take a minute to tune in to each area of your body, increasing awareness of your sensations and experiences. Pay attention to your breathing. Concentrate on what you are feeling, including all areas of tension, heaviness, pressure, burning, constriction. Bring your attention to the feet and pelvis. Pay attention to the sensations in the muscles and skin. Take a deep breath, directing your attention to your torso, being aware of the sensations in the lower back of the abdomen, pay attention to the spine. Transfer awareness to your shoulders, arms and hands. Mark all areas of tension / relaxation. Notice the neck, throat, face, eyes, mouth, tongue and general head sensation. When you are done with your body scan, pay attention to your body as a whole. Take notes of your experiences. Anchoring in the present moment. Feelings, sight, hearing, taste, smell, touch are essential tools for grounding in the present moment. Name five things that you see, four that you hear, three things that you touch, two things that you can smell, and something that you can eat.

Grounding affects all areas of our lives. So the psychological state of a person affects his physical condition, the harmony of ties with society and, as a result, the success in achieving the goal. An ungrounded person often has psychological problems: fears, anxiety, irritability, emotional chaos.

Thanks to the practice of grounding, you can consciously manage your state, despite the unpredictable course of events, and thus maintain your health, psyche and improve the quality of life in general.