An anchor is something that holds an object or a person down. Therapeutically there are emotional, physical and thought anchors. These tools are there to be used in situations that may require some assistance in your daily life. Self-care starts with identifying ways to help you cope. So let’s discuss how can an Anchor help with our mental health.
Emotional Anchors are a situation, a moment, a place that triggers an emotion. Triggers meaning they are psychological things that create an emotion. These emotions can be positive or negative. Music is an emotional trigger that is experienced commonly in our world. Most people listen to music daily in their car, on their phones or at home. Music has become a fabric of our lives. There are songs that come on that can immediately take us to a specific place and time. These emotional flashbacks are not always positive. Songs can even cause us emotional distress such as songs that remind you of a loved one that has passed or an important relationship that has ended. Songs can bring us right back to a time of extreme trauma. Emotional Anchors can take you back to a person, place or specific time in your life, this is what music does. I would like you to learn to use music as a positive Emotional Anchor. Music can remind you of sad times but it can also bring you back to so many great times in your life. This is how you are going to use music as a Healthy Emotional Anchor. Consciously, pick songs to listen to that remind you of a happy memory. This gives you the power to use an Emotional Anchor as a tool to lift your mood and elevate your energy levels.
Physical Anchors are actual objects that you have at your disposal to help you immediately cope with situations that cause you anxiety, stress, fear, sadness and anger. A Physical Anchor is exactly how it sounds a physical object that you carry around with you. This object when touched helps you to focus and to change your thought process in uncomfortable situations. A tool such as worry beads can be carried around with you. When you are in an anxious situation you hold the worry beads and focus on the texture, temperature and the shape while in your hands. This exercise helps to ground you and to avoid things getting out of control emotionally.
Thought Anchors are things you will focus on that are in your environment. Identify a focal point in your surroundings that you can look at or listen to intently. Focusing all of your attention here and in the moment is a coping skill that you can use any time. Thought Anchors help to increase your level of concentration, thoughtfulness, focus and compassion. This is one of the Anchors that takes the most work because you have to find the right anchor that works for you. Example, one of my Thought Anchors is to go outside of my house when I am stressed, close my eyes and listen to the sound of a pool waterfall. I really listen and focus. This task helps me to remove myself from a stressful thought process and to refocus. My mind may wonder but as I continue to practice this Thought Anchor I am able to increase my level of concentration and inevitably feel less stressed.
Take a listen to my podcast Season 2: Episode 68 and you will be able to listen to how you can really use all of these great coping techniques in your every day life. Self-care is up to each individual. Listen to any of my podcasts to assist you on improving your mental health, coping skills or life skills and you will begin to see a difference in your world and how you see yourself in it.
POSITIVE THOUGHTS, CREATE POSITIVE ENERGY
GO OUT AND EXPLORE ALL OF THE WIDE OPEN SPACES IN YOUR WORLD
CIAO.
Ilise
