Using Grounding Techniques for Bulimia Recovery

Bulimia can be an extremely distressing experience and it will be helpful if you are aware of how you can help yourself in your day to day living.

Begin with a Grounding Exercise

In moments of distress, finding calm isn’t always easy, especially when dealing with bulimia.  A quick and effective grounding technique involves guided imagery, which can help stabilize your breathing and your emotions and bring you back to the present moment.  It will take about 2 minutes.

• Find Comfort: Settle yourself in a comfortable position, either sitting down or lying down.  Ensure your environment is quiet and free from distractions.
• Body Focus: Begin by focusing on breathing in from the top of your head and gently acknowledge every part of your body down to your toes.  Notice your jaw, your shoulders, your arms, your fingers, your back, your spine in all its length, your hips, your legs, and finally, your feet.
• Notice Sensations: As you focus on each body part, notice the sensations you feel — is there any tightness, warmth, or tension there?  Simply notice and allow these feelings some space to be there without any judgment.
• Deep Breathing: With each exhale, imagine releasing more and more tension.  Feel your body against the surface of your chair or the floor, letting gravity support you, and embracing all the support you can feel.

Transforming Our Relationship with Food one Mind-Full Moment at a time

It is common that we turn to food for comfort when we feel stress or tension, and by incorporating a simple grounding technique, we can create a pause in our day.

With time and practice, grounding exercises can transform how we connect with our body.  It’s a practice that nurtures body neutrality and appreciation and instills trust and compassion, allowing us to approach food and eating from a place of peace rather than emotion and conflict.

Breathing Life into Our Recovery

I encourage you to take a moment out of your day to create a pause.  This acts like an anchor, bringing us back to the present moment and helps us feel our inner strength a bit deeper so that we can better manage our distressing thoughts when they rear up from a place of fear.

Every effort we make like this is a step towards healing, and acknowledging this within ourselves is powerful.  Do your best to be gentle with yourself throughout your day and know that support is available here in Brisbane and all around Australia, in fact, it’s just a phone call away.