mind mATTER Dropping anchor during an emotional storm
the chair beneath you; notice your back supporting you.
Slowly press your fingertips together, and as you do that, gently move your elbows and your shoulders. Feel your arms moving, all the way from your fingers to shoulder blades.
Take a moment to acknowledge there is emotional pain here in this moment. You didn’t ask for it but here it is – it’s challenging and it’s difficult and you want it to go away, and yet it’s not going.
Silently acknowledge to yourself what type of pain it is. For example, say to yourself “Here’s sadness” or “Here’s anxiety” or “Here’s a painful memory”.
Now notice that as well as this pain, there’s also a body around that pain – a body that you can move and control. Straighten your back again and notice your whole body now – your hands, feet, arms and legs. Gently move them and feel them moving.
Have a good stretch. Notice your muscles stretching. Press your feet down and feel the floor.
Look around the room – up down, and side to side – and notice five things that you can see three or four things you can hear.
Repeat the exercise until you feel grounded in the present. Dr Ellie Milby is a counselling psychologist