Treating Your Body With Care
When your body feels activated, it needs care, not criticism. These four ways of responding can help you come back to yourself — try whichever one fits the moment.
Identify items that help you feel safe, soothed, and grounded. What can you touch, or have touch your body, to soothe you? A bath? A blanket? Hugging yourself? A massage? A weighted blanket?
If you're feeling stress in your body, it can help to discharge that energy. Literally shake it off — move your body by waving and shaking different parts to release tension. How else can you move your body to release tension?
Cry, yell, scream, let it out. Do you need to get angry? Find stress balls. Listen to heavy music. Throw something soft. Tear up paper. Or create — draw, paint, journal. Put your feelings on paper.
Be nice to yourself. Think of your body during a hard moment like a scared child — how can you let that part of you know it's safe and cared for?