Those of us struggling with addiction and mental health issues are no strangers to experiencing intense and sometimes debilitating anxiety. We might suffer from anxiety attacks, panic attacks, eating disorders, insomnia, and other anxiety-related issues. We might have Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, which is an anxiety disorder that causes us painful obsessive thinking and/or compulsions. We might feel as though our anxiety is something we can’t control. We struggle to find coping skills that actually work for us, in the moment, when we’re feeling overwhelmed and scared. Grounding is one very helpful practice to offset symptoms of anxiety and bring about feelings of peace and wellness.
Grounding is the practice of connecting with the earth, with our lower chakras, and with the incredible healing power of nature. There are various ways to ground ourselves, one being visualizing ourselves grounding, becoming more centered and aligned within ourselves, and rooting down into the earth. We can use breathing exercises to augment our grounding techniques. We can meditate on our lower chakras and to heal and balance them, we can use their corresponding colors, foods, crystals, earth elements, sounds, and syllables.
When we have an imbalance in our three lower chakras, our root, sacral and solar plexus chakras, we often struggle with feeling grounded, centered, stable and secure within ourselves and in our lives. We often feel lost, confused and overwhelmed. We struggle to consciously manifest what we want and to find our path and our calling in life. We have a hard time building and summoning our willpower, and it’s hard for us to own our power in the world. Some of these challenges are especially familiar to those of us living with addiction and mental illness.
Grounding in nature can be incredibly powerful and transformative. We can walk barefoot, taking time to feel our connection with the earth beneath us. Breathe deeply and feel yourself become one with the elements. We can let ourselves get caught in a rainstorm, allowing ourselves to feel connected to the trees, rain, thunder, lightning and open sky. We can hug trees, an ancient healing practice where people have even learned to communicate with trees and receive guiding messages. We can swim or be near water to help ourselves ground ourselves, and the negative ions of bodies of water have soothing effects to help us calm our anxiety. We can meditate to the sound of the waves crashing.
With some exploration, grounding practices can be another natural and effective wellness tool you can add to your recovery program.
Riverside Recovery believes in the importance of holistic healing and education, mindfulness and mind-body-spirit wellness. Call (800) 871-5440 for more information on our treatment programs.