On A Wave of Mutilation?

Finding Your Way Back to Shore

Sometimes our emotions arrive like sudden waves — powerful, crashing, and impossible to ignore. Anxiety, panic, or stress can sweep us off our feet, making it feel as though we’re drowning in the moment. But here’s something worth remembering: every wave eventually rolls back out to sea. Feelings always pass.

Grounding is like reaching for the shoreline when the current feels too strong. It doesn’t stop the tide, but it helps you steady yourself until the waters calm again.

What Is Grounding?

Grounding is the practice of gently bringing yourself back to the present when thoughts or emotions feel overwhelming. By focusing on your body, your senses, or your surroundings, you give yourself an anchor — something to hold onto when you’re being pulled under by inner storms.

It’s not about forcing the sea to be calm; it’s about remembering you can float until the wave passes.

Three Simple Grounding Exercises

1. The 5-4-3-2-1 Check-In

This exercise pulls you back to the here and now, like surfacing for air:

• 5 things you can see

• 4 things you can feel

• 3 things you can hear

• 2 things you can smell

• 1 thing you can taste

By scanning the world around you, you remind yourself that you are safe on solid ground, even if the waves inside you feel high.

2. Anchor Yourself in Your Body

When emotions are surging, plant yourself like a rock in the shallows:

• Press your feet firmly into the floor and feel the ground steadying you.

• Roll your shoulders, stretch your arms, clench and release your fists.

• Run your hands under cold or warm water, noticing the temperature like a current running over your skin.

Each action is a reminder: you are here, rooted, not drifting away.

3. Hold Something Steady

Just as a sailor might grip the side of the boat in rough water, holding a grounding object can help you feel safe:

• A smooth stone, a ring, or a key in your pocket.

• Notice its weight, texture, and shape.

• Describe it silently, detail by detail.

This object becomes your anchor, tethering you to the present moment.

Letting Feelings Flow

The sea will never stop moving, and neither will our emotions. The goal of grounding isn’t to block the tide but to trust that every wave rises, peaks, and falls away. No storm lasts forever.

When you practice grounding, you don’t need to fight the waves — you only need to ride them, knowing the waters will settle.

A Gentle Reminder

If you’re new to grounding, practice on calmer days so that when storms do come, the techniques feel natural and familiar.

And remember: there is nothing wrong with you for feeling swept up sometimes. Being human means living with tides of emotion. Grounding simply helps you float until you find your way back to shore.