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Every therapist will probably eventually encourage you to try some grounding activities. Grounding is that helpful. It is that universally needed. It is that important.
And yet, people often roll their eyes at it. It sounds too fluffy, too flaky. They might think, how can something so flaky be of any help to me? Then they try it. They find out it is not flaky at all. They find out, from first hand experience, that grounding can be revolutionary.
Struggling with unwanted intrusive thoughts can really make life difficult to bear. The nature of these kinds of thoughts is that they are incredibly distressing. Having unwanted intrusive thoughts can lead you to doubt yourself, your sanity, your morality, your safety, or the safety of those you love.
Due to the current global pandemic, every counsellor and psychologist around has suddenly switched to offering their services by video sessions only (or phone, in some cases). We are all thankful that mental health support can continue to be provided at all during this challenging time, especially when the need for psychological counselling will inevitably only increase as the public health crisis progresses.
Naturally, many people are wondering, is video counselling:
a) Just as effective as in-person sessions?
B) Almost as effective?
C) Not effective at all?
D) Even more effective?
E) It’s all we've got, so let’s do it regardless of the actual answer.
Jokes aside, of course we want to KNOW what the research says!
I recently pulled something in my shoulder and suddenly had a bout of acute pain that lasted for many days. Like most of us, I’ve had my share of injuries and pain, but this issue was so sudden and affected so much of my day to day life that it really threw me off my game. I couldn’t do many of my usual activities and experienced jabbing pains with every micro-movement I made. I found myself catastrophizing, focusing all my attention on the pain and how terrible it was, and it really dominated all my attention.
Read on for strategies for responding to pain…
I know what you’re thinking. How can practicing being grateful not be flaky, fluffy, or fuzzy? It sounds like something a feel-gooder, cheeseball will encourage us to do right after waving incense sticks around, and right before selling you their homemade gratitude memory bowl for $89. (This probably exists.)
Ok, so I sound cynical. It’s true. I may be way too cynical to be a therapist. But I use my cynicism for good! I believe that. My cynicism is actually skepticism, which means I want to know why something works and not just adopt it because it sounds helpful. And, of course, being more grateful SOUNDS helpful! And, it turns out that it IS actually pretty darn helpful.
Unfortunately, anxiety is part of being human. It will not go away. Not completely. It is just part of our human make up. If you had no anxiety, you would be an alien. In fact, if you think about it, if you had zero anxiety you would probably have a hard time keeping yourself safe in a dangerous environment.
Check out this illuminating animation describing common obstacles… it is truly delightful.
This article, published by the Huffington Post in September 2018, is an excellent and poignant description of the incredible stigma people considered to be overweight struggle with in our fat-shaming society. I see many implications for counselling here…
