Skip to main content

Ground

Recently I’ve been using the word “untethered” to described how I feel. Lost, unfocused, easily overwhelmed. It took me some time to realize the opposite of untethered is grounded. So obvious, huh? I know. I never said I was quick ;-)

Next step: how to get grounded? I know what it feels like: you’ve got it together, you’re self-possessed, rooted and firm. Not scattered or vulnerable to the vicissitudes of everyday life.

Dream on.

But maybe?

There are grounding exercises, most of which include externalizing your attention or otherwise bringing yourself into the present moment, but their effect never lasts very long for me. Things that have worked are progressive relaxation, breathing exercises, and very slow yoga. But they don’t work right away. These are all practices, which means you have to develop a regular practice to reap the benefits.

Have I started any of these practices? Honestly, no. I’m resistant to add more maintenance elements to my day since it feels jam-packed with them as it is. But I know I need to. Maybe by the time you read this, I will have bookmarked a good progressive relaxation video. It may not be much but every step matters.



Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

What Bipolar Does to the Brain

I’ve been researching what bipolar does to the brain and seriously—fuck. There’s both a lot more research than my 25-year-old B.A. in Psychology could assimilate and not nearly enough. A layperson’s book on the subject is sorely needed. Here’s the gist. * There’s solid evidence that the dysfunction during depressive and manic states causes changes that persist into our baseline states. * There are several neurotransmitters involved: dopamine, norepinephrine, serotonin, GABA (gamma-aminobutyrate), glutamate, and acetylcholine at the least. And hormones that act like neurotransmitters are in the mix, too, like endorphins and oxytocin. * Brain structures yet discovered to be involved/affected include areas of the prefrontal and temporal lobes, the hippocampus, thalamus, and hypothalamus. * Bipolar affects both grey and white matter, meaning both the structural elements of the brain and the connective tissue between them. And by affects, I mean corrodes over time. There’s mor...
Post a Comment
Read more

Brain Helpers, Part 2b

Besides everything listed in Brain Helpers Part 1 ,  science has found a number of other ways we can repair, protect, and grow our brains. I’ve collected some of them and divided them into Physical and Mental for posting purposes. Here are the Mental ones. (And here are the Physical ones.) Mental ways to repair, protect, and grow your brain Reduce stress . Too much stress kills neurons, alters brain structures, impairs memory, and leaves us more susceptible to mental illness. In bipolarites, it triggers episodes. The conversation around reducing stress won’t fit here. For now, this Harvard Health article and this NAMI list cover a lot of ground. Do puzzles . This isn’t a global fix for brain health, but it has been shown to help with attention, reasoning, and memory. Be happy . I know, I know , but happy brains are better at memory and learning, and they kick ass at neuroplasticity. There is a huge (like 30%) global increase in function in happy brains. All of this means...
Post a Comment
Read more

Manic Alone

15% of people will experience some form of depression during their lifetime. (Doesn’t it seem like that number should be higher?) 2.5% will experience bipolar. Those numbers don't matter to the person in the throes, except when it comes to finding people who get it . It’s so much easier to talk to people about depression because they’ve been there. They can empathize. But with hypo/mania, man, it can be like pouring your soul out into a dry well. All most people have to go by are pop culture references—movies that get it wrong and news articles like that one naked lady who just wanted a goddamn McDonald’s ice cream cone. And I tell you what lady, I get it. For me, being manic is way more isolating than being depressed. There’s a veritable army of depressives out there (at least in my world full of writers and women who aren’t afraid to say what’s what). But when you’re manic, it sure feels like you’re manic alone.  
Post a Comment
Read more