Unstress
Grounding
A guided 5-4-3-2-1 exercise: notice five things you can see, four you can feel, three you can hear, two you can smell and one you can taste. It might help when your thoughts are racing and you want to come back to where you are.
Notice what’s around you, one sense at a time. Go at your own pace, and skip any step that doesn’t suit you.
Other quick ways to ground
Feet on the floor
Press both feet into the ground and notice the contact. Push down gently, then release.
Cool water
Run cool water over your wrists or hold a cold glass, and keep your attention on the feeling.
Name a category
Pick a category, like films, foods or cities, and name as many as you can. It gives a racing mind one simple job.
Grounding is a wellbeing exercise, not a treatment. If overwhelming feelings keep coming back, or get in the way of daily life, consider talking to a qualified professional. Support links are below.