The Basics

Mindfulness is the basic human ability to be fully present, aware of where we are and what we’re doing, and not overly reactive or overwhelmed by what’s going on around us. Mindfulness is taking notice of the sounds you hear, the sights you see, the sensations your body feels, what you smell & taste, and even taking stock of various emotions you feel. Mindfulness is also noting what your mind is doing, such as worrying about past events or anxiously planning the next day.

Grounding is a technique that helps keep someone in the present, helping reorient a person to the here-and-now. Grounding skills can be helpful in managing overwhelming feelings of intense anxiety and extreme emotional pain. They help someone to regain their mental focus by detaching from emotional pain by focusing on the outside world rather than what’s going on internally.

Coping skills (also called coping strategies or coping mechanisms) are tools and techniques you can use to help you handle difficult emotions, decrease stress, and establish or maintain a sense of internal order. They can be helpful to use when you’re feeling angry, anxious, sad, stressed, overwhelmed, or even when you're feeling well, to help you stay level. Developing effective coping skills means learning more about yourself- what helps and what doesn’t.