Our bodies are wise messengers
Sensations in our bodies can offer us insights into what is happening in our inner world. This applies to both the physical and the mental. For example, acute chest pain can be an indicator of cardiovascular issues but could also be a symptom of Anxiety. It’s important that we listen to these messages and seek a professional opinion when we’re unsure which but it’s long been understood that our mental wellness can manifest as physical symptoms.
Remember that prolonged Anxiety can contribute to heart issues. Our mental health and physical health are inextricably linked.
Our feelings are messages from our bodies
Emotions that rise up in our bodies are messages just like physical manifestations. Our job is to interpret these messages and figure out how to use them in a healthy way. A great example of this is rage. We often feel rage when boundaries are crossed or we feel disrespected. Rage itself has been demonized for AFABs but it is simply an emotion. What we do with that emotion is up to us.
We may use feminine rage to drive our activism, protect our community, or stoke the flames of change within our own households. The point here is that feelings are messages.
Disconnection causes dis-ease in our bodies
When we have a deep disconnect between our minds and our bodies we may find it difficult to sense our emotions. We may also find it easier to make choices led by emotions without considering the impacts. Without our bodies offering their wisdom and insights into our emotions we aren’t grounded into the physical realm.
Creating the full picture
Disconnected bodies and minds hide the reasons for our actions. We, therefore, find it harder to notice the patterns. For example, if every time you feel disrespected you raise your voice but you’re unaware of this connection and think you’re, “just a yeller,” then it’s possible you’ll miss that disrespect was the driver of that behavior. Without the full picture, you’re just a loud person. With the full connection of mind and body, you’re someone who felt disrespected which caused your body to react.
Taking this one step further, with this fuller picture you are more in control of your actions and of situations you may be in. You feel your body try to elevate your voice in order to be heard and can choose to take a deep breath instead. You also may discover that you can now understand where the reaction comes from in your childhood and then are able to access deeper healing from that, affecting the behavior.
We can reconnect via embodiment
Embodiment refers to the tangible form of an idea/feeling and there are many ways to bring yourself into your body! We can work on reconnection between body and mind by practicing things that ground us. Much of grounding is simply using the senses intentionally while you do something, honestly. This is going to be different for each person, but we can recommend some practices to try!
Comfort Items – Yes, grounding can be as simple as wrapping yourself in a blanket you love. While you do this, pay close attention to how the blanket feels on your body. Is it soft? What does it smell like? What color is it?
Journaling – The benefits of journaling are vast and there’s even science behind why it’s so beneficial for us. Journaling helps us slow down, order our thoughts, and make sense of things. Combine journaling and writing with consideration of how a situation makes your body feel? This is a powerful grounding tool you can use daily.
Movement – A great way to access grounding energy is to act on the sensations in your body in a healthy way. Feeling like you need to run and escape a situation that you know cognitively is safe? Try literally running. Feeling like your arms need to move and dispel the feelings inside you? Give dance a try! Feeling angry and need to dispel it? Try pushing against a wall. Find a healthy and safe way to move the body and give yourself the physical feedback you’re searching for.
Breathwork – Simply focusing on what it feels like to breathe can be grounding. There are plenty of videos and classes that teach breathwork or integrate it into their practice. At its core, breathwork is about observing and controlling the breath.
Forest Bathing – This Japanese practice involves immersing oneself in nature and being mindful of each sense. This can be as simple as taking a hike through a treed area and taking time to notice the sights, smells, sounds, and textures of the things around you. The goal is to remove yourself from settings with man-made objects and pay deep attention to nature.
When to tap in a professional
As with everything, we want to remind you that mental health is different for every person. There are definitely times where a professional should be who you turn to. We’re offering tools to put into your toolbox but another excellent tool is a therapist. If you’d like to work with embodiment and somatic practices, we recommend finding a professional therapist who has training in Somatic Experiencing. Note: We do recommend it be a therapist specifically. There are many other fields that train in this modality but don’t have the capability to properly diagnose or treat.
