Grounding does not just mean telling ourselves to calm down, and then we magically calm down. Instead, grounding ourselves involves the repeated practice of exercises and an understanding of what works or doesn’t work for us. When we are grounding, we anchor ourselves back into our body, the moment, or the task at hand, to ultimately feel more in control of ourselves and decrease the emotional experience that leaves us feeling out of control. Grounding techniques range from literally taking off our shoes and socks and putting our feet on the ground for an actual connection to the earth to using our whole body, including our five senses. Using our body as a grounding resource, we can be more present in our surroundings and snap back to reality. When we feel escalated, we are often overstimulated emotionally or physically. Grounding techniques help our body become destimulated and get back to baseline.
When we are disconnected from our mind (think dissociating or avoiding) or our body (think freezing up or having panic attacks), it can be hard to stay grounded. Our nervous system gets triggered and puts us in a fight/flight/freeze/fawn mode where we are not feeling present or like our usual selves. We become more dysregulated.
The use of grounding for mild triggering situations is worthwhile. It’s also an excellent extra kick or jolts to become centered or back in our own body when we experience more escalated triggers. With grounding techniques, we can have a tool to check us back into our mind and body and return to a more regulated state. Since our mind and body are almost always in motion, grounding can be a way to slow down and proceed more mindfully in our day.