We all know what it feels like to be in a heightened, activated state. Our nervous system sends us into survival mode and we lose the ability to think clearly. Here are three methods to regulate ourselves when under stress.
– Julie McGlynn
1 Process
Processing is using your mind to calm your body. It’s getting it out. Processing with others can look like going to therapy or talking to a friend. Processing individually can look like journaling.
2 Soothe
Soothing is using our body and bodily senses to calm our mind. Soothing yourself could look like going for a walk in the sunshine, lighting a candle, hitting the gym, getting a massage, talking a bath, dancing or singing in the car, etc.
3 Distance
Distancing is giving yourself time away from processing an issue. Distancing could look like playing a video game, seeing a friend, watching a movie or reading a book. Sometimes we over think and over process and that can cause us to spiral. Distancing is setting down a problem temporarily to get a break and see things from a different perspective. The important thing to
remember about distancing is to pick back up whatever you temporarily set down once we have a clear head.
These three ways to self-regulate can help keep us grounded when we are stressed or feeling like we don’t know what to do to feel better.