AML patients may be overwhelmed by many difficult emotions related to the disease diagnosis, treatment, or just everyday life. These emotions can often pull us out of the present moment, immersing us in past memories, future anxieties, create feelings of detachment, and disconnection from our current environment.
To navigate these challenging emotions, the grounding technique offers an effective way to re-anchor oneself in the "here and now." This helps pull us out of spirals of overwhelming emotion and return to the present.
The key to successfully implementing grounding is awareness. Recognizing when we have mentally checked out is the first step. Once we identify that we are detached from the present, often as a defense mechanism against painful realities, we can choose to ground ourselves.
Once patients practice the above grounding technique until it becomes a familiar habit, they will have a valuable emotional resilience tool to draw upon when depression or anxiety tries and pull them out of the present moment. Help stop emotional spirals and protect your mental well-being. Patients are welcome to shorten or lengthen the amount of time of each step as they see fit.
If patients need further help to support their emotional well-being, reaching out to a licensed mental health counselor is always a good option. We encourage you to take the needed steps to improve your mental health to better your quality of life.
AML patients may be overwhelmed by many difficult emotions related to the disease diagnosis, treatment, or just everyday life. These emotions can often pull us out of the present moment, immersing us in past memories, future anxieties, create feelings of detachment, and disconnection from our current environment.
To navigate these challenging emotions, the grounding technique offers an effective way to re-anchor oneself in the "here and now." This helps pull us out of spirals of overwhelming emotion and return to the present.
The key to successfully implementing grounding is awareness. Recognizing when we have mentally checked out is the first step. Once we identify that we are detached from the present, often as a defense mechanism against painful realities, we can choose to ground ourselves.
Once patients practice the above grounding technique until it becomes a familiar habit, they will have a valuable emotional resilience tool to draw upon when depression or anxiety tries and pull them out of the present moment. Help stop emotional spirals and protect your mental well-being. Patients are welcome to shorten or lengthen the amount of time of each step as they see fit.
If patients need further help to support their emotional well-being, reaching out to a licensed mental health counselor is always a good option. We encourage you to take the needed steps to improve your mental health to better your quality of life.
about the author
Megan Heaps
Megan joined HealthTree in 2022. As a writer and the daughter of a blood cancer patient, she is dedicated to helping patients and their caregivers understand the various aspects of their disease. This understanding enables them to better advocate for themselves and improve their treatment outcomes. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her family, sewing, and cooking.
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