I once had a client who told me, with a lot of hesitation, that she survived a panic attack by lying on her kitchen floor for twenty minutes. She felt embarrassed about it. She thought it was "weird" or a sign that she was falling apart.
But I told her the truth: That wasn't a weakness. That was wisdom.
Her body was asking for stability. It was asking for the ground. And she listened.
We often hear that "wellness" looks like a perfectly executed yoga flow or a disciplined meditation practice. And while those tools are wonderful, I want to validate something important: sometimes, when you are in the thick of overwhelm, those things feel inaccessible.
When your nervous system is dysregulated, the goal isn't to force yourself into a rigid routine. The goal is simply to find safety.
I wanted to share some unconventional, yet psychologically sound, ways we intuitively cope—and why these instincts are actually brilliant attempts by your body to care for you.
1. Reclaiming Your Narrative (The "Defiance" Spark)
There is a concept in psychology called agency. It's the feeling that you are the driver of your own life. When we are depressed or anxious, we often feel like we've lost the wheel.
Some of you have told me that what gets you out of bed isn't "gratitude," but a quiet, stubborn refusal to let the darkness win. You might call it "spite," but I see it as resilience.
It is that small, inner voice that says, "This situation is hard, but I will not let it define my entire story." If the only reason you brush your teeth today is to prove to yourself that you can, hold onto that. That spark is the beginning of hope returning.
2. The "Observer" Mindset (Externalizing Your Needs)
When we are struggling, we often pile shame on top of our suffering. We think, "I'm lazy," or "Why can't I just function?"
A technique I love—which the internet sometimes calls "treating yourself like a Sim"—is actually a form of mindful detachment. It is the practice of stepping back and viewing your biological needs objectively, without the emotional judgment.
Instead of judging yourself for being tired, you simply observe the data:
Observation: "My body is low on fuel." Action: Eat something nourishing.
Observation: "My social battery is depleted." Action: Retreat and rest.
By removing the shame, we make space for care. You aren't failing at life; you are simply a human being with needs that require tending.
3. Sensory Interruption (The "Sour" Reset)
Anxiety is often a physical loop. Your brain sends danger signals to your body, and your body sends panic signals back to your brain.
Sometimes, we need to gently interrupt that loop using our senses. This is a grounding technique often used in dialectical behavior therapy (DBT).
Using a strong sensory input—like the sharp taste of a lemon or the cold sensation of an ice cube—triggers a "reset" for your nervous system.
It pulls your focus out of the spiraling thoughts and anchors you firmly in the present moment. It's not just a distraction; it is a way of signaling to your brain, "I am here. I am in this body. I am safe."
4. Somatic Grounding (Finding Support on the Floor)
And then, there is the kitchen floor.
Have you ever felt the urge to just lie down on the ground? There is deep anthropological wisdom in that impulse. When our internal world feels shaky, we instinctively seek something solid.
Lying on the ground provides somatic support. It allows your muscles to stop doing the work of holding you up, signaling to your brain that it is safe to let go.
If you need to lie on the rug for twenty minutes to feel steady, please know that is a valid form of regulation. You are allowing the earth to support you when you cannot support yourself.
A Gentle Invitation
Healing is rarely a straight line, and it doesn't always look graceful.
If you navigated today by eating a sour candy to stop a panic attack, or by lying on the floor to find your center, I am proud of you. You listened to what your body needed to survive.
Let's be gentle with ourselves. We don't need to be perfect; we just need to be authentic. That is where the real growth begins.
With warmth and support,
The MindTunes Team