The Grounding technique is a therapeutic technique that recently emerged in the field of physical health and whose main objective is to restore the health of people through the reconnection of the human being with the Earth. For this, different exercises are carried out through which the person "grounds" when contacting them with their bare feet. In psychology, this technique has multiple applications, but above all it is usually used in anxiety disorders because it helps to connect with the present and paralyze the rumination that feeds the anxiety.
In the following Psychology-Online article we will explain what is the Grounding technique for anxiety and how to practice it. In addition, you will also find why it manages to calm anxiety and what are the specific benefits of using it.
Index
- What is the Grounding technique in psychology
- How the Grounding technique is practiced to reduce anxiety
- Why the Grounding technique calms anxiety
- Benefits of practicing the Grounding technique
What is the Grounding technique in psychology.
The Grounding or Earthing technique means "to land". From a scientific point of view, it refers to the positive effect that walking barefoot in direct contact with the earth on human physiology and psyche.
In the 1990s, various authors, including Clinton Ober, began different investigations to test this hypothesis. The positive results indicated that, in effect, the direct contact of our feet with the Earth provides a great variety of benefits in the general state of health of the person. For example, it relieves pain from chronic diseases, decreases stress, improves sleep, strengthens the immune system, reduces inflammation, helps improve arthritis, headaches head etc
From all these investigations, various explanations of this technique have been made to improve the physical and psychological health of people. In psychology, This technique is widely used to combat anxiety because it allows the affected person to break with the state of confusion and anguish and regain peace by performing different exercises that allow them to return to the present. In the following article we explain How to live in the present
How the Grounding technique is practiced to reduce anxiety.
Taking into account the initial meaning of Grounding, the basic and main practice of this technique consists of walking barefoot on solid ground. The steps to follow to do it correctly would be the following:
- Find a quiet natural space in which to be able to practice this technique without interruptions.
- take off our shoes.
- While we are standing still and in contact with the earth, we will initiate a soft deep breath that will allow us to resume lost contact with the earth little by little.
- After a few minutes breathing deeply and awakening our body to contact with the earth, We will start a smooth and calm walk.
- during the walk we will become aware how our feet contact the different elements of the earth and how we feel as it goes as time passes, the sounds that we are hearing or the visual details that we are observing (light, colors, images...).
From here, the grounding technique has given rise to multiple specific exercises and techniques that help reduce anxiety. Here we explain two of them:
"The Three Three"
This exercise consists of closing your eyes and, after an initial deep relaxation, name the three sounds we perceive around us. After this, we will slowly open our eyes and we will name the three colors seen first and, finally, we will describe the three sensations experienced at that very moment.
This simple exercise helps people with anxiety to focus their attention on these small instructions and, without hardly noticing, to get rid of the mental ruminations that kept them in an unpleasant state of anxiety. In this article you will find some relaxation techniques for anxiety.
"5,4,3,2,1"
This technique consists of promote the development of the five senses, keeping in mind that when this sensory connection helps us to ground ourselves and return to the present. To do it, you must name the first 5 things we see, touch 4 objects, list 3 sounds we hear, pay attention to two things we smell and, finally, become aware of a taste.
Other valid techniques would be all those that favor personal contact with oneself and with the reality that surrounds us. wraps through the use of natural elements, given its proven beneficial effect on the health of people. For example, dancing in nature, hugging a tree, sitting on the ground and taking deep breaths, walking on different natural surfaces, etc.
Why the Grounding technique calms anxiety.
Anxiety distances the person from the present, burdening them with memories of the past or with fears about the future. The anxious state focuses the mind on a continuum of negative thoughts that wear and corner the person. The grounding technique lets go back to the present, thus reducing anxiety levels by abandoning irrational thoughts.
When carrying out the suggested indications, the anxious person's mind should abandon negative thoughts and focus on feeling what he touches, smells, hears, sees, feels, etc. This is not an easy job as, at first, the torrent of thoughts shackles the person and paralyzes them.
However, therapeutic accompaniment helps the person gradually abandon their blocked state and acquire a conscious and active role in their life. It is through these small actions that the person breaks the chain of irrational thoughts and, with it, reduces the anxiety levels.
Benefits of practicing the Grounding technique.
The scientific explanation of the benefits of practicing the Grounding technique is based on the fact that planet Earth is a large electrical network whose characteristics generate an optimal biological environment for living beings and people to restore the internal balance of our systems physiological. In this sense, social advances have led us to cities far from nature, covered in asphalt and on which we must walk with shoes on.
All this new vital situation of the human being has been an obstacle in its natural form of discharge and natural recharge of the organism, which has derived from a cluster of organic imbalances that have accounted for a large part of the origin or worsening of many of the current physical ailments and psychological aspects of our society, such as stress, all kinds of inflammatory diseases, psychological and emotional disorders, etc
For all these reasons, the Grounding technique is a very useful tool to be able to use the innate mechanism of organic restructuring of the human being as a means of recovery and necessary maintenance of health. In short, Grounding reminds us that it is inherent to the human being to be one with nature, to maintain continuous contact with it to maintain optimal states of health.
This article is merely informative, at Psychology-Online we do not have the power to make a diagnosis or recommend a treatment. We invite you to go to a psychologist to treat your particular case.
If you want to read more articles similar to What is the Grounding technique for anxiety and how to practice it, we recommend that you enter our category of Personal growth and self-help.
Bibliography
- Zucher, M. et al. (2012). "Earthing: With Bare Feet". Editorial Syrian
