[PurpleFlyingMonkeys]

I really hate to be this way but when I'm in a bad place I post very frequently I'm so sorry but I kind of need help...

I keep having trouble with dissociation from one side to the other. From just spacing out a little, to not being able to feel my body, to full on switching. I'd like to know more grounding techniques, what others do as mine aren't as effective as they once were, I can only use them so many times before it's routine and doesn't help much. Any tips you could share for grounding?

[amandalouise]

Originally Posted by PurpleFlyingMonkeys

I really hate to be this way but when I'm in a bad place I post very frequently I'm so sorry but I kind of need help...

I keep having trouble with dissociation from one side to the other. From just spacing out a little, to not being able to feel my body, to full on switching. I'd like to know more grounding techniques, what others do as mine aren't as effective as they once were, I can only use them so many times before it's routine and doesn't help much. Any tips you could share for grounding?

I take a walk or go boating on the lake.

Im not sure but I think I remember there is a grounding thread in the PTSD board you might be able to find some things there that might help too.

[Claritytoo]

Eating something sour helps me. I don't really like sour things. Also ice. One of my alters once got stuck out and could not get back in, my t suggested ice. It worked. The sudden cold cleared my head. I also take walks and get out of the house. I find if I isolate too much I start to feel unreal and disconnected. Hope some of this helps. Take care

Sheppard Prat did frozen oranges or frozen lemons. The coldness, plus the smell. I use grounding beads, which is basically any bead with texture. I use tangles... look them up, they're cool. I know a girl who used lip gloss, like the smell, and the feeling of it on her lips. I use Jolly Ranchers a good bit, because they're really powerful in taste. If I was switching I would write the year 2012 on my hand so it could orient the part to this time, without the part becoming fearful. I would write it on my feet too, in case I switched in the shower, as that happened frequently for me. I've also covered my entire hand in elmers glue and spent an hour picking it off. I know it sounds stupid, but it's amazing. Just paint it on. I'm a skin picker though and it's how I stop myself from skin picking.

[PurpleFlyingMonkeys]

Thank you all, perhaps I should try them and find something that works and keep it on hand? Often I gently scratch my legs or find something to touch, but it doesn't work so well, I try to point out things I see and hear and say them out loud but that's not working so well, maybe I need something with a little more shock so to speak, something more intense. I used to have a charm bracelet and when I felt like I was slipping naturally I would grab one of the charms and start rubbing it, but I lost that a year or so ago. I loved that thing too, it had really unique charms given to me by people I really care about. Maybe I'll start another, and pick up some of y'alls ideas. Thank you kindly for so many ideas!

[Gr3tta]

I think the charm bracelet is an excellent idea!!! (might steal it for myself!)

I like to use my pets to help ground. Just petting them and interacting, and I have mantras I go over too.

[PurpleFlyingMonkeys]

I think I will purchase a new link bracelet to start a new charm bracelet, it's fun to find charms, also nice when I get some non traditional charms from others. I had one from Korea that my mom got on a book mark but it had a beautiful heart amethyst stone in the middle and the setting looked like an apple. My brother, while he my fiance and myself were exploring an old abandoned jail house, I asked him to find me a souvanier as I was too afraid to go inside myself, sure enough he comes walking out and had found a really old handcuff key. My fiance bought me a beautiful necklace with our home state logo but the chain popped and one of the small diamonds fell out so it became a new charm on the bracelet. We also look for sharks teeth and one day, after a horrifying run in with a large pack of dogs, I found a rather large but perfect for the bracelet, sharks tooth and made it into a charm. Then I lost it. It took a while to get all of that together but it would likely help to keep me a little more grounded.
I grab my daughters favorite stuffed animal from time to time. Smell it, rub its head, touch its eyes and different parts that feel different when I'm missing her (she's spending the summer with her dad) and it helps a little. But a grown woman walking around with a stuffed animal everywhere I go might set off alarms for some people.
I think a charm bracelet and bringing some like big red gum or something might help. I'll try what I can.

[Gr3tta]

Could you keep a small stuffed animal in your purse, your pocket, or up your jacket sleeve? I have been known to do this.

[PurpleFlyingMonkeys]

Yeah probably, I didn't think about that. My daughter has tons of them from mcdonalds happy meals and ones we win out of the claw machines, turns out I'm a natural for that game lol. I'll find one that's comforting tonight and see how that works out Thanks for the idea

[kyangel04]

I keep a little beaded bracelet in my purse. I can grab if I need too. I like the stuffed animal idea too. We love teddy bears.

[Crew]

With me at all times almost are atomic fireballs that grounds me fast! A worry stone and just repeating back to myself that I am safe and I know how to kick so if I am in a situation then I will do what I have to, to be safe.

I hope these ideas work out of you, let us all know if they worked or not and ask again there are hundreds of ways to ground yourself Positively!

Great question btw, Peace, and crew