Self-Regulation
Do you want to be stronger, faster, smarter? When we are more relaxed in our bodies, we can think better, physically respond, and verbally communicate more effectively and have full access to all of our internal resources. We can limit unintentional overreactions and emotional outbursts. We can also help our friends, colleagues, pets, and family members co-regulate (benefit from our calm).
Self-regulation is a way of noticing when we are beginning to feel distressed. We then use learned strategies to settle ourselves so that we have full access to our own skills and abilities. Self-regulation helps us be more conscious and deliberate about how we are responding to any given situation. When we are more relaxed in our body we respond better both physically and mentally - this is a learned skill.
Self-regulation Exercises
Below are a few simple exercises to help you begin to feel how self-regulation techniques work and how they feel in the body.
Scan your body slowly from head to toe and see where you notice any tension, tightness, numbness, pain, relaxation, etc. Just by paying attention to the body what happens?
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Take a couple of deep exhales? What do you notice in your body now?
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Look around you and notice what you see, hear and smell. What do you notice? Pay close attention to any pleasing sights, sounds, or smells. How do you feel now?
A RITT therapist can help you learn more techniques and how to use them when you are most stressed.