When the Lid Is Totally Flipped.. When the limbic system fully takes over, and the cortex is offline, the person can’t access logic, language, or self-regulation. In this state, the brain is stuck in survival mode—fight, flight, or freeze. Bottom-Up Strategies Are Needed Here! These strategies don’t require thinking—they communicate safety directly to the nervous system through the body.

The concept of noticing exits like windows and doors in a room is a simple yet effective mindfulness and grounding technique used to help manage feelings of anxiety, claustrophobia, or stress. By intentionally scanning the room for exits, your brain receives a signal that you are not trapped or in danger, which helps activate your sense of safety and control. This practice is especially helpful for those who experience moments of overwhelming emotion or when feeling anxious in enclosed or unfamiliar spaces.

A Nature Rainbow Walk is a mindfulness or sensory exercise where participants engage with the natural environment by focusing on identifying and observing the colors of the rainbow in their surroundings. It’s a fun, grounding activity that helps connect people to nature while promoting presence and awareness.

Here are 13 mindfulness exercises for kids and teens that focus on sense of sight. Fun, easy, ongoing mindfulness practices can help us and our young people create a sense of safety. Oftentimes, we enter situations where more information comes into the mind/body than it can easily handle, creating a sense of overwhelm. We might describe this as “too much, too fast, too soon”. In order to take care of ourselves in these moments, we need to let the body feel safe.

Preparing your space for c section recovery.

Boost your mental health during postpartum.