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 JayneBurgos |
A learn-in on the Shrunken Head & Grounding Exercises. |
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Posts: 50 (09/15/08 07:38 AM) |
Hi,
Let's begin a learn-in on the Shrunken Head & Grounding Exercises. These are practical exercises to either lower flight/fight overwhelm or make someone more present centered and oriented during or after an emotional process. Jayne Burgos |
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RichKarch |
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Posts: 58 (09/15/08 01:33 PM) |
The Shrunken Head
This activity is often recommended by Steve for those who may encounter panic, intense fear, or even hyperventilation during processing. It's an excellent method for breaking a highly agitated state. Warning: Folks with a history of mental illness, PTSD, or panic are urged not to use these techniques without a therapist. If you decide to do these processes you will agree to absolve the webmaster, the webhost, Emoclear.com, and Steve Mensing of any responsibility for the application or misapplication of these processes. There is always in any process the possibility that someone could experience some discomfort. The Shrunken Head is a method to halt abreactions, panic attacks, and flashbacks. It works because it takes over those areas of the brain where abreactions, panic, and flashbacks take place. The stimulation of the Shrunken Head activities blocks flight/fight reactions. Directions: To do the Shrunken Head, briskly rub your palms and fingers together for several minutes while you suck in your cheeks and tighten your lips. Every so often gently bite the tip of your tongue. Do these activities while you pay full attention to any abreaction, panic, or flashback imagery and allow it to be there. The brisk palm/finger rubbing, occasional gentle tongue biting and sucking in your cheeks/lips strips the flight/fight overwhelm gears. If you suddenly burst out laughing while doing this activity it's okay--it's no sign of madness! Take care, Steve Steve Mensing ©2008 |
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TomCuthbertson |
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Posts: 58 (09/16/08 06:15 PM) |
Hi,
"The Shrunken Head is a method to halt abreactions, panic attacks, and flashbacks. It works because it takes over those areas of the brain where abreactions, panic, and flashbacks take place. The stimulation of the Shrunken Head activities blocks flight/fight reactions." The Shrunken head was designed as a technique to block the signals that trigger flight/fight syndrome. The palm rubbing, sucking in your cheeks, and tightening your lips all send a potent signal to that part of the brain that shuts down fight/flight. This signal travels faster than the stressful flight/fight signal. Gentle tongue biting does the same. A great method for shutting down overwhelm, panic, and PTSD flashbacks. This technique can add safety to trauma and panic work because of its swiftness. Tom Cuthbertson |
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BillSoltas |
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Posts: 31 (09/17/08 05:46 PM) |
In doing the Shrunken Head you simply rub your palms and fingers quickly together for a few minutes while you tighten your lips and suck in your cheeks. A 30
seconds or so gently bite the tip of your tongue. Pay full attention to the overwhelming feeling while you do this. (It will go down rapidly within minutes. At
the end you may feel slightly tense--but the overwhelm is flattened.)
Bill Soltas "Directions: To do the Shrunken Head, briskly rub your palms and fingers together for several minutes while you suck in your cheeks and tighten your lips. Every so often gently bite the tip of your tongue. Do these activities while you pay full attention to any abreaction, panic, or flashback imagery and allow it to be there. The brisk palm/finger rubbing, occasional gentle tongue biting and sucking in your cheeks/lips strips the flight/fight overwhelm gears. If you suddenly burst out laughing while doing this activity it's okay--it's no sign of madness!" |
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DanCanepa |
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Posts: 36 (09/18/08 01:23 AM) |
Reposted.
The Grounding Exercise When working with altered states and performing drills that ask us to shift to different viewpoints, it's often important to "ground" ourselves back in our bodies or reassociate ourselves. The Grounding Exercise was made for just this purpose. **Warning: Folks with a history of mental illness, PTSD, or panic are urged not to use these techniques without a therapist. If you decide to do these processes you will agree to absolve the webmaster, the webhost, Emoclear.com, and Steve Mensing of any responsibility for the application or misapplication of these processes. There is always in any process the possibility that someone could experience some discomfort.** Steps to the Grounding Exercise 1. Right nasal dominance breathing/heartbeat region hold/open your eyes and look around: Gently pinch your left nostril closed and take 25 deep and moderate breaths through your right nostril only. This will raise your beta brain waves and help to make you more alert. While you do this right nasal breathing, place your palm on your heartbeat region and keep it there the remainder of the exercise. Also open your eyes and briefly look at objects around your room. 2. Bring your attention to your body and feel it/attend to your solar plexus and state: "In my body": Bring your attention to your body and fully feel your entire body. Let your attention move to your solar plexus. Contract the solar plexus while you state aloud: "In my body." Say it several times with meaning. "In my body". "In my body." 3. Notice where your body contacts surfaces and fully feel your body: Simply bring your awareness to where your body contacts surfaces. Feel your entire body. When you feel completely in your body and alert, you may stand up. Give yourself all the time you require to feel fully in your body and grounded. Take care, Steve Steve Mensing ©2008 |
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DaveCohen |
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Posts: 47 (09/22/08 03:55 AM) |
Hi,
The grounding exercise is invaluable when you are working with integrators and emotional writing process, with altered states producing exercises or otherwise are entranced for a period. Grounding speeds up your brainwaves and gets you back fully in your body and present. Dave Cohen "The Grounding Exercise When working with altered states and performing drills that ask us to shift to different viewpoints, it's often important to "ground" ourselves back in our bodies or reassociate ourselves. The Grounding Exercise was made for just this purpose." |
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GaryHoltzman |
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Posts: 53 (09/26/08 05:07 PM) |
Hi,
In the first step the right nasal breathing gets you back to faster brainwaves. Opening your eyes cuts down on alpha. Noting the objects in the room brings you back to the present. Gary Holtzman "Steps to the Grounding Exercise 1. Right nasal dominance breathing/heartbeat region hold/open your eyes and look around: Gently pinch your left nostril closed and take 25 deep and moderate breaths through your right nostril only. This will raise your beta brain waves and help to make you more alert. While you do this right nasal breathing, place your palm on your heartbeat region and keep it there the remainder of the exercise. Also open your eyes and briefly look at objects around your room." |
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KyleBroughton |
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Posts: 28 (09/27/08 08:52 AM) |
Hi,
In step 2 you bring your focus to your body and feel you your solar plaexus area. You state, "In my body". You make this statement several times with meaning. Kyle Broughton "2. Bring your attention to your body and feel it/attend to your solar plexus and state: "In my body": Bring your attention to your body and fully feel your entire body. Let your attention move to your solar plexus. Contract the solar plexus while you state aloud: "In my body." Say it several times with meaning. "In my body". "In my body."" |
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PeteWarren |
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Posts: 54 (09/28/08 11:10 PM) |
Hi,
In the third and final step you bring your attention anywhere your awareness contacts surfaces. Like your fanny on a chair--your back to the chair--your hands on your lap and such. Feel all of your body. When you feel alert and fully in your body, then stand up when you are ready. Give yourself as much time as you need. Peter Warren "3. Notice where your body contacts surfaces and fully feel your body: Simply bring your awareness to where your body contacts surfaces. Feel your entire body. When you feel completely in your body and alert, you may stand up. Give yourself all the time you require to feel fully in your body and grounded." |
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MartinHauck |
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Posts: 41 (09/30/08 02:19 PM) |
Hi,
The Shrunken head is valuable for blocking overwhelm--fight/flight in the following circumstances: Rage. Severe Anger. Panic attacks. PTSD reruns. When working with heavy duty trauma. During high-octane phobias. During a severe crisis. Facing strong fear. Martin Hauck |
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DuaneMarquart |
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Posts: 28 (10/01/08 10:34 AM) |
Hi,
If you are doing lengthy periods of any meditation form use the grounding exercise to get ~unspaced~. That's if your are going over 40 minutes for a long session. Duane |
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EdBoylan |
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Posts: 56 (10/04/08 10:24 AM) |
Hi,
Don't halt your breathing during either technique. Breathe slowly and deeply from your belly during both techniques. Ed Boylan |
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TomCuthbertson |
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Posts: 65 (10/05/08 01:29 PM) |
Hi,
Quick right nasal passage breathing helps bring on beta brainwaves which facilitates grounding and being present. Tom Cuthbertson |
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AlyceWaters |
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Posts: 43 (10/06/08 01:47 PM) |
Hi,
If an overwhelm emergency shows up there's nothing quicker for blocking overwhelm than the Shrunken Head. It litterly jolts a panic attack or PTSD flashback off it's tracks. It should be in every trauma workers firstaid kit. It's very easy to perform and easy to recall. Alyce Waters |
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