Self-Havening

Why it works

Self-soothing touch rapidly reduces anxiety and helps you feel safe to experience difficult emotions. It's particularly useful in high-stakes situations, during sleepless nights, or when experiencing emotional flooding.

How to practice

1. Apply medium-gentle downward strokes (like massaging in a cream) to your: - Shoulders → arms → hands (like washing your arms) - Forehead → face → chin - Palms → fingers
2. Maintain a medium pressure and breath slowly. Continue for 2-5 minutes. Optional: Add positive statements or visualizations while stroking. Notice the calm you begin to feel within a minute of practice.

Good to know

The downward stroking motion sends signals of safety to the nervous system. Think of it like manually activating your body's natural self-soothing mechanism. For maximum benefit, practice consistently in calm environments, rather than only in crisis moments.