Grounding techniques for Children and Teens with Anxiety
By: Rachel Fowler, MS, LPC, NCCGrounding techniques for children and teens are helpful tools to help manage anxiety. Overwhelming anxiety can make your body and your thoughts feel foreign. Grounding techniques will assist the brain in coming back to reality and help you feel like yourself again. One of the great things about ground techniques is that they can grow and change as you or your child does. Grounding techniques are not one-size-fits-all. Anyone can adapt the following grounding technique to what best works for them, their family, and their surroundings.
Four Types of Grounding Techniques:
Body Grounding Techniques:
Change or immerse the body into a whole new experience or sensation. This can be lying on the ground, taking a shower, or wrapping yourself in a blanket. You can also change your body’s sensation by drinking a cold cup of water, eating a sour piece of candy, or holding an ice cube.
The Five Senses (sight, touch, hear, smell, and taste) Grounding Techniques:
It is important to remember to acknowledge and stimulate your five senses. This can be as simple as bringing a new texture, like your favorite blanket or sweater. Light your favorite candle or use your essential oil in your safe space. Drink your most comforting drink or eat your favorite candy. Just remember to stimulate one of the five senses.
Self-Soothe Grounding Techniques:
Find your comfort items and keep them close. Depending on age, these items can be a variety of items. For smaller children, this can be a favorite stuffed animal or toy. For teens, it can be their favorite scented candle or weighted blanket. My personal self-soothing item is a 1lb weighted stuffed animal (a blue whale from T.J Maxx).
Distraction Grounding Techniques:
Being anxious or overwhelmed is a sign that you need a break! Take the time to do something you enjoy. This can also look like taking yourself away from the stressor by physically leaving. Take a walk, play a game or catch up on one of your shows. This will help clear your mind from negative feelings and thoughts and have a clean slate.
Why are grounding techniques important?
Grounding techniques can regulate your emotions and bring you back to a state of awareness. When we become overwhelmed with anxiety, we can feel out of touch with reality and consumed with emotions. Grounding techniques are for everyone, not only those who battle panic attacks. Before, during, or after feeling overwhelmed with anxiousness or nervousness are appropriate times to practice grounding techniques.
Begin Therapy or support for Mental Health in Katy, TX
If you feel like your child could benefit from learning skills related to anxiety and help improve their mental health. Let one of the therapists at The Center at Cinco Ranch can help! We provide mental health counseling, as well as other mental health services. To begin counseling in Katy, TX follow these three steps:
- Contact our office to set up an appointment or to learn more about our services.
- Meet with one of our compassionate therapists
- Find ways to help your child thrive!
Other Therapy Services We Offer:
Here at The Counseling Center at Cinco Ranch, we offer counseling services for people of all ages in areas including counseling for kids, counseling for young adults, teen counseling, couples counseling, eating disorder treatment, men’s issues, women’s issues, anxiety treatment, depression therapy, trauma counseling, family therapy, and group counseling. Our therapists strive to post blogs regularly. We provide helpful information on a variety of mental health topics. To learn more about our therapists and our counseling services, please reach out to the Counseling Center today!