Staying up to date with current conversations and news surrounding sexual violence is important, but can also be emotionally challenging. That’s why we share self-care resources with our readers. Thank you for making issue-awareness part of your journey.

It’s normal for survivors of sexual violence to experience hypervigilance, fear, stress, nightmares, anxiety, and nervousness which is a condition known as post-traumatic stress disorder. While it is completely normal to feel these symptoms, grounding can be used as a coping strategy for survivors with symptoms related to trauma. There are a few ways to practice grounding, which can alleviate symptoms and may make it easier to carry out day to day tasks. Below are a few ways you can ground yourself with your 5 senses and practice daily:
Sight
- Count all of the furniture pieces in front of you and name the color of the furniture
- Read a book or a magazine
- Watch your favorite show, movie, documentary, or comedy
Touch
- Touch and hold a warm cup of coffee or tea
- Cuddle with your cat or dog if you have one
- Play with therapy putty or play-do, or fidget ring
- Squeeze a stress ball
Taste
- Chew a minty piece of gum
- Bite into a lemon or lime
- Try out some new salsa and try a spicy salsa if you like spicy foods
Sound
- Listen to a meditation playlist
- Call a loved one and listen to their voice
- Turn on your favorite music
Smell
- Light up your favorite scented candle
- Sniff something with peppermint or lavender
- Go into nature and smell the flowers or the leaves
- Close your eyes and remember the scent of a loved one
"Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder - RAINN."
https://www.rainn.org/articles/post-traumatic-stress-disorder. Accessed 14 Feb. 2023.