[CedarS]

A helpful technique for dealing with disassociation and anxiety from PTSD is to ground ourselves, by focusing on something in our environment. I figure a good time to practice this is also when I'm not in the midst of an episode. Anyone wanna join in?

Look around the space you are in, name:

Something you see
something you hear
something you touch/feel
something you smell
something you taste

I'll work this, let's see...

I see dim light coming in through slanted blinds, I see large bright lamp bulb shielded by white cone shade, I see my college graduation green white and gold tassel hanging from a white hook, I see a red cotton place mat, also a rose pink chair.

I hear the footsteps of neighbors upstairs, wood creaking. Crows cawing, my keyboard clicking, a car cruising by outside, coffee sloshing in paper cup, various electronics apartment, squeak of chair.

I feel ache in my arms, pain in shoulders, dull all over flu feeling, warmth in feet. Plastic of keyboard, soft brushed cotton of pants. Plastic smooth of coffee cup lid. Ripple of metal spiral wire on notebook, cracked vinyl of chair.

I smell coffee, almond pastry cake, laundry soap scent faint in sweater, vanilla in hand lotion.

I taste faint saltiness, coffee strong, almond flavored yellow cake, mouthwash.

[SleepsWithButterFlies]

Something you see
something you hear
something you touch/feel
something you smell
something you taste>

I see my dog laying next to me
I hear his sleepy breathing
I can feel his warm soft fur
I smell his popcorn smelly feet
I tasted his puppy lips

and I smile because of his cuteness

[Schatze]

I see my husband and dog
I hear the television in the background
I feel my laptop computer
I small nothing...unusualy in our house of kids and dogs
I taste chocolate milk

[(JD)]

I see... my room, my dog, my home
I hear the sounds of the tinnitus driving me loco
I touch the notebook....I feel body pains, dental pain.. eye irritation...
I smell nothing
I taste nothing

(lost last 2 to injury)

[CedarS]

Spacy this morning, will use this to help get myself back on track.

I see blue and black pen, white container with small black writing on it, white and black large calender

I hear the hum of frig, caw of crows outside, click of keyboard, vague whooshing sound

I touch sorta cold keyboard keys, feet on ground in padded shoes, achiness in body

I smell toast!

I taste morning taste, just woke up, time to eat toast, brush teeth, take on the day

I am here, present, in my body

[(JD)]

and? B R E A T H E ...

[CedarS]

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and? B R E A T H E ...

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I'm confused, tell me more? Not sure if you are prompting me, or adding in an idea, a reminder to relax and breathe.

As for breathing, I'm reminded again today, the value of checking in on my breath. Some gentle, loving attention to my breath, a nice sigh of peace, gettting some needed air and oxygen going, all good.

[(JD)]

Both? Remembering to BREATHE is a very helpful technique for centering or grounding whichever you call it. Feeling your breath helps to know you're alive and not be so ethereal about the situation and events going on around you.

Often when we begin to lose touch with our surroundings --dissociate-- we fail to breathe deeply enough. This affects our brains for sure, but also our muscles which can then begin to feel numb and "unreal" also.

[CedarS]

Yes, this I know, agree about how helpful attention to breathing is.

I just was confused by how you worded your prior query, wasn't sure of the context. Thanks.

[(JD)]

that's ok sarah... with me, when in doubt don't (don't think I said something to flame you) I'm eccentric and tend to think and state things differently.

[eskielover]

Like how you just throw words in...sky.....one work can have so much meaning...breathe reminds me that my psychologist said breathing is the cheapest medicine...FREE. Can't beat that.

Debbie

[eskielover]

Sarah,

I like your grounding techniques....went through them but didn't like the outcome right now...will try later.

Debbie

[candylandsue]

ask---------ok mind, what is the next thought I'm going to think..... Observe this new thought.

[(JD)]

Welcome candylandsue... not sure what you mean here... please clarify.. (I assume it's for me, let me know )

[dayzee9]

((((((yo! SarahL))))))))))))

THANKS!!! I am going to incorporate that "grounding technique"

Sounds like an excellent idea/exercise (I need a lot of "grounding" believe me!

May I print this up?

Once again, thanks....I love new idaes in this forum!!
Peace, DAYZEE9

[(JD)]

slightly

Re: distraction techniques from another thread here. There are more as we cover these techniques often! We have to. LOL

edited by __zh to make link work
(it is a helpful link! thanks _Sky for finding it)

Re: distraction techniques

another try on the link above. I can't seem to make it link to second post in thread that _Sky is linking to. This is the best I could do

hope this helps