Often over-thinking is experienced by those going through eating disorders, and/or anxiety symptoms. Almost by definition of these disorders there must be a strong level of cognitive over-activity. Thoughts can become so entrenched they feel like facts. They aren’t ever disputed, but form rigid rivulets in our thinking stream. From this automation we are puppetted by a creation of our own making. Albeit unwittingly. 

Body sensations and experience often isn’t in awareness when someone finds themselves stuck in the over-thinking cycle. The body doesn’t feel like a safe place, so the attention jumps into overthinking; the illusion of control. The sympathetic nervous system is activated in a flight or fight response. The SNS triggers the fast paced flickering of the brains shallow level thinking – quick, detached, impulsive thoughts. Loud and dominant. For the person experiencing this it can be very hard to drop down, to slow the momentum. So often this pace has been going on for so long it actually feels ‘normal’.

Grounding can help to help drain the energy from over-thinking and adrenalin-inducing-patterns in the body, to a conscious reclaiming of power and autonomy.

Attention to grounding points such as soles of feet, hips, spine and hands is useful. If you are unable to do a full meditation either because of your environment or circumstance (such as being at work or in conversation with others) or even if the anxiety and strength of thoughts are too strong, choosing to really concentrate on the touch points of these parts of the body can be more accessible.

Feel soles of the feet. Feel them against stockings, socks, shoes, carpet, earth. Sometimes I like to visualise roots tumbling from my feet down into the earth, plugging me into the earth, holding me steady.

Feel hands, fingers, look at them. See their delicacy, fragility. Feel through fingertips, feather-light. Hold hands together to mark self-support.

Spend a few extra moments whenever washing your hands through the days as a check in opportunity. To bring yourself back to you. Feel water and soap on your skin, feel the muscles in your hands, the texture of your skin. Putting pressure into the bulky part of you palm below your thumb can realise tension.

Be aware of your spine, visualise each vertebra articulating up your back. See a fingertip-light touch walking up your spine. Adjust your body if you notice your posture isn’t feeling comfortable for your spine now you have an awareness of it.

Feel your hips. Feel if they are balanced, so often we hold them askew. Feel their density, see if you can release the energy there at all. Imagine gentle warmth gracefully guiding your hips open and down. See how that shifts in your body.

These points of awareness can bring the attention away from intrusive thoughts and anxiety and bring you back into your body. Making a practice of going through these check in points several times through the day can also often improve ease and depth of sleep.