How to use your body to soothe your mind.

Calm Practice

👀 Peripheral Vision 👀

When we feel anxious or panicked we may find our vision changes. It might be difficult to make eye contact or our eyes might scan around in search of threats.

Try these practices to send cues of safety by engaging your vision.

• Slowly scan around your space, taking in your environment. It might help to say a mantra such as, “I am here now, safe in this moment.” Other suggestions are to look for items in your favorite color or search for items in the room that bring you a sense of joy or calm.
• Keep your head and eyes locked straight ahead while you widen your awareness to notice things at the edge of your vision (in your periphery). 
• Hold an object such as, a pencil or pen and pass it back and forth slowly between your hands. Move each hand out to the edge of your vision before bringing it back through the center to pass it to the other hand. Follow the object with your eyes, while your head remains facing straight ahead.

Reference

Ballagh, R. (2024). Peripheral Vision. 101 Ways to Find Calm: How to Use Your Body to Soothe Your Mind. P. 36-37.