Grounding ~ What have you tried? Weighted blanket?

[Lauren Rose]

I am curious and always looking for new ideas on grounding not only back into the present, but into my body. I was walking my 10lb Morkie today and I put on 5lb each ankle weights to make the flat ground walk more interesting - he has to check every pee mail station on the way. When I was walking I was thinking back to the first time I wore the weights.

It was in the early days of PTSD - in the dark times - when I wasn't in my body and barely had a grip on this reality. I was in touch with the sensation that I was going to float away so I went and bought the ankle weights. They worked enough to allow me to be out in the world. I wonder if they also upped my serotonin production because I am learning about pressure therapies now.

Which leads me to my questions ... what grounding techniques have you used? Which worked and which not so well? And specifically, has anyone used a weighted blanket? I am looking into it as a possible to help me sleep. Looking forward to your responses.

 

[sunshinedaydream]

I’m not sure, but my therapist made me a voice recording because my mind plays tricks on me and mkes me forget what he says so now I can listen to it to prove to myself that it is what he really thinks or at least said to me. That helps me get grounded.
I also use a soft blanket I like.

 

[Lauren Rose]

@sunshinedaydream awesome! I too had that same issue. My counselor made me a body scan meditation with his voice I used to put on repeat in the dark times and couldn’t sleep. It was definitely comforting and helped me stay in the moment enough to relax my nervous system for a minute.

 

[sunshinedaydream]

@sunshinedaydream awesome! I too had that same issue. My counselor made me a body scan meditation with his voice ...

Thank you for sharing that! I like hearing others have had similar things. Was the body scan meditation long? I have told my T that this recording is helping a lot. He said let him know if it changes or if we can add more to it. Or do more with it. I am not sure what else to suggest, but listening to him talk and sound the same as normal does seem to calm me down and remind me everything is the same.

 

[piratelady]

I don't have any experience with weighted blankets. I've recently discovered slime (that you can make with glue, not the really watery kind, but the stuff that's more rubbery). I can add scents to it. It's kind of gooey and gives me something to play with my hands, look at, focus on, and smell. It seems to ground me really well. It does have kind of limited uses though.

 

[sunshinedaydream]

I've recently discovered slime (that you can make with glue, not the really watery kind, but the stuff that's more rubbery). I can add scents to it. I

I want to try slime!!!

 

[Kubash16]

I have a weighted blanket and I have a love/hate relationship with it. There are nights (and days) I crave the feel of it and wish I had more cause it’s just soo comforting. Other nights? Feels like I’m suffocating if even a bit of it is on me. Haven’t quite worked out the whys for either. Cause I have nightmares and insomnia with or without.

 

[NatBird]

- walking meditation barefooted. Just two three meters back and forth for anything from 10-30 mins

- hugging a tree, feeling into connection with roots, preferably bare footed too

- bioenergetic exercises, ideally outside

- root vegetable soups

 

[Keming]

electric fan. the fluttering breeze forces my brain to pay attention to external stimuli but it's not an overwhelming experience.

 

[lostforgottensoul]

My therapist and I throw a stress ball back and forth to keep me grounded in session. I have no idea where I got that idea but it works well in session.

Out of session I use my service dog. Weighted blankets hurt me so I can't use that but I have chronic pain.

Self soothing techniques help me too for grounding. Like touching soft stuff or smooth cold stuff. As do techniques I used to use for cutting. Like holding ice cubes or snapping a rubber band on my wrist.

Lots of grounding techniques are on this site. I'd just use to search option and search "grounding techniques". I am sure you can find a lot that way too. ETA Or even search "weighed blanket".

 

[rosey]

I am curious and always looking for new ideas on grounding not only back into the present, but into my body. I was walking my 10lb Morkie today and I put on 5lb each ankle weights to make the flat ground walk more interesting - he has to check every pee mail station on the way. When I was walking I was thinking back to the first time I wore the weights.

It was in the early days of PTSD - in the dark times - when I wasn't in my body and barely had a grip on this reality. I was in touch with the sensation that I was going to float away so I went and bought the ankle weights. They worked enough to allow me to be out in the world. I wonder if they also upped my serotonin production because I am learning about pressure therapies now.

Which leads me to my questions ... what grounding techniques have you used? Which worked and which not so well? And specifically, has anyone used a weighted blanket? I am looking into it as a possible to help me sleep. Looking forward to your responses.

I have been using a weighted blanket for almost a year now. I love iy and it has helped my sleeping a great deal. I also now sleep with a pink salt lamp on a very low setting, if i wake during the nice the soft light helps calm me.

 

[Lauren Rose]

I also now sleep with a pink salt lamp on a very low setting, if i wake during the nice the soft light helps calm me.

I too sleep with a salt lamp ?

I just finished this. The weight of it is comforting. It’s my heart chakra mala.