March: Escape Pick of the Month

Discover the Healing Power of Grounding and Earthing Techniques

"Out of the mountain of despair, a stone of hope." ~ Martin Luther King, Jr.

I have spent months trying to figure out how to introduce an "escape" and figure out different types of "monthly escape's" for those of us who suffer from PMDD. I know with disorders there are varying types of degree's (or stages) on how the disorder can effect a person. Even though we can all have the same disorder, we might all experience it differently. Mine was extreme and none of the traditional suggestions (exercise, journal, therapy, etc.) worked for me. I ended up figuring out what worked best for me and trying them out. One of the things I did was "Grounding".

A Grounding How Too worksheet

I had not idea that what I was originally doing is actually called "Grounding" ( also known as Earthing). When in the throughs of terrible anxiety and feeling myself loosing control, I would take an hour and focus on the 4 basic elements. I would spend 15 minutes with each element. A steamy hot shower or bath for water. A walk outside without shoes (in the spring/summer/fall) or with (winter) for earth. Sit on the grass or inside on the floor and do a breathing exercise for air. And lastly, hold a candle and stare at the flame for fire. Even though my hormones were raging through my body and I wasn't able to control what was going on; connecting with the elements helped me a lot. It doesn't sound like much but it does take a lot of focus to concentrate on something for that long.

Different types of Grounding

In researching this post, I found out what I was doing was a type of "grounding" (Earthing). I also learned there are other exercises you can do to ground yourself and that there are actual health benefits for doing it. Access the hyperlink to review the case study and article from the Science Direct Explore magazine.

6 Ways to Practice Grounding

How Grounding effects the body

But does it really work?

I have no idea if this would work for everybody. I remember days were it was so hard to even get out of bed to go to the bathroom, let-a-lone try and actually function. But I am an Empath which is another reason my PMDD was so severe. Being able to isolate myself and take whatever time was allotted to me, to gain some sort of control was a blessing. The simple grounding techniques I did wasn't a cure but at least helped calm my anxiety to a more manageable level. Now that I have had my surgery, the other grounding exercises have definitely helped to calm my nerves.

Give it a try, what could it hurt? If it works, it is a triumph, if it doesn't try another exercise till you find the one that fits you. When you have found the one that works, print it out and paste it to your vision board, document it in your journal, tape it to your mirror, where ever you will see it on a daily basis as a reminder to do it everyday. Also, let us know what you did and how it felt! We are all in this together and can all benefit from each others win's and losses.

"I don't want to survive, I want to live". ~ 12 Years a Slave

Tune in next week for Episode 2, of Season 2.

References

Menigoz, W., Latz, T. T., Ely, R. A., Kamei, C., Melvin, G., & Sinatra, D. (2020, May). Integrative and lifestyle medicine strategies should include Earthing (grounding): Review of research evidence and clinical observations. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.explore.2019.10.005. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1550830719305476#:~:text=Earthing%20(also%20known%20as%20grounding,and%20generates%20greater%20well%2DbeingVolume 16, Issue 3 pages 152-160 ISSN 1550-8307

Raypole, C. (2023, July 13). What is an Empath and how do you know if you are one? Healthline. https://www.healthline.com/health/what-is-an-empath