Somatic Mindfulness therapy, the practice of focusing attention on the present experience in a way that is non-judgemental, can be beneficial for many people. During the COVID-19 pandemic, it can be especially beneficial in relieving stress and anxiety. As many of us are spending more time in our homes than ever before, with new anxieties, worries, and threats than we had previously, mindfulness can help in a variety of ways. We offer mindfulness teletherapy at the Trauma and Beyond Psychological Center (R). Additionally, there are some mindfulness exercises that you can do at home which can help in your day to day life.
Mindfulness: Paying Attention to the Experiences Without Judgment
As you go through your day, do you feel something and then judge yourself for it? Do you ever find yourself cooking a meal, then suddenly being mad at yourself for something that happened many years ago? Have you ever felt anxious about an event that is in your past, letting it ruin your mood? These are the kinds of feelings and judgments that mindfulness can help with. Depression, trauma, anxiety, and any number of other mental health issues – mindfulness can assist with those and many others.
Everyday Mindfulness
During these stressful times, there are some simple exercises you can do which can help to make you just a bit more mindful. They could potentially keep you from falling into a depression spiral. For example, when you’re doing a daily task, such as taking a shower, cooking a meal, or even going for a walk, focus intensely on what you’re sensing. Go through each of your five senses and make a note of what you perceive. What are you feeling in the moment? What are you experiencing internally, what are you seeing. Look at the colors and shapes, and feel the tactile sensations as you move through each exercise. There may be smells or tastes that go along with each experience. At different points throughout the day, in the afternoon, when you get up in the morning, and at night when the day is almost over, take some deep breaths and really check in with yourself. Notice your breath, is it shallow or deep? Notice your chest rising with each breath and falling with the exhale. Be mindful of any bodily sensations, any areas of tension, stress or tightness. Really clock how you’re feeling, but do it without judgment. Just tuning in and noticing can make a difference. Now, try relaxing with each in breath, and breathing out any stress.
“Learning to Accept Our Thoughts”
Have you ever felt like you were having a good day, and then out of nowhere, you thought of something from your past that just completely changed how you were feeling? In a moment’s time, you went from having a pleasant day to being very upset? Learning to notice changes internally and being curious rather than judging your thoughts can help. Using Mindfulness and Emotional Regulation Skills can help. Mindfulness therapy can help in the development of learning to pay attention to experiences without judging them or being influenced by them. That means, instead of your thoughts having total control over you, you can have more control over your emotions.
Somatic Mindfulness Therapy at Trauma and Beyond (R)
Everyone has had to make adjustments during the COVID-19 outbreak. Here at the Trauma and Beyond Center, we offer teletherapy. That means that you can get mindfulness therapy or any of our other treatment modalities all while at home. You can simply log in through a HIPAA-compliant web portal and videoconference with our experienced, professional staff. We can help you to walk you through the process if need be. For a free complimentary consultation, call us at (818) 651-0725.
