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Anyone else not able to do 5-4-3-2-1 grounding technique

NAS83418

Hello  :-)

Just a quick question. I'm late diagnosed. Struggling with trauma and at the moment I'm impacted by emotional regulation. I've never been able to do the 5-4-3-2-1 grounding thing, I've tried for over 15 years. I don't ever seem to be able to climb down enough to do it and it just doesn't work no matter how hard I practice in calm moments to set it as a pattern/habit.  Does anyone else struggle with it?

  • in reply to NAS83418

    A simple one that might help, if you are able to notice, you may find your shoulders hunch as you get anxious and nervous. Lowering your shoulders and taking one deep breath really helps. You can mentally say down too as you do it. AI suggested this, I tried it and it actually works, at least for me.

    Make sure you breath out. I used to breathel in more than out. This makes a difference too.

    Closing your eyes for a few seconds, while breathing, if safe to do so, may also help as the eyes provide a huge amount of data.

    These things are quite discrete.

  • in reply to Stuart333

    Thanks for replying! Great suggestions. The grounding technique is needed for when I'm out and about in public, so I can't do the cold water/washing thing. It's not so much a thought pattern as being flooded/overwhelmed with emotion/anxiety/fear   

  • in reply to NAS83418

    No worries

    It's not my dog, just a picture that you can choose on here I do have a family Yorkshire terrier though! 

  • I think it is too complicated, so make it something simpler. The point of it is to make you aware of your surroundings and senses. You can do this by other means.

    Such as wash you hands under a cold tap. It draws your focus to your hands and the here and now. There is not much to do or concentrate on.

    I think movement helps too, such as just walking outside and getting some light and air for a few minutes. It is better if cool or raining.

    I don't know if you can use some other way to break the thought pattern, such as having a mental image of something you still want to achieve or are proud of that you can reach for. It depends on how much control you have when dysregulated.

  • in reply to pinkchocoholic

    Thanks so much for replying. Glad I'm not the only one! I'm getting the clear impression that I'm being put in the "unwilling to try" or "obstructive" category for telling a therapist that it hasn't worked for me in the past and still doesn't.

    By the way, is that your gorgeous pupper? 

  • I've tried doing it but never get enough things for the higher numbers

    I did read there's a 3-3-3 where you try focus on 3 things you see, 3 sounds you hear, and move 3 body parts