It’s All About That Baseline

At large, therapy can help help increase your awareness of yourself. Overtime in therapy, you will hopefully be discussing and gaining an understanding of what your “baseline” feels like. Your baseline is where your neutral is, this can include positive feelings but does not have to. Your baseline is when you feel most yourself and grounded. This looks different for everyone and can change over time (yes, in positive ways too!).

Why is this important?

If you don’t know what your baseline is, it’s hard to know when you have improved. On the flip side, if you know your baseline you can start to slowly notice when you are moving away from it. This can be incredibly helpful as utilizing grounding, self soothing or coping skills at this moment can prevent a full on panic attack or overwhelmed state. It is much easier to implement tools when you are beginning to stray from your baseline than when you are already being hijacked by strong emotions. 

You have some control to move the needle on this

For those of us who like control (speaking to the masses here) it can be comforting to know that you have some agency in maintaining your baseline or can work towards building those agency muscles. Of course, returning to your baseline is not always possible, might not be realistic for some time when you are just beginning therapy and discussing barriers to doing so in therapy can be needed first. In general, these are a handful of ways we can maintain a more consistent baseline overtime and with practice. 

Eating in ways that feel healthy for you

Drinking enough water and limiting caffeine, particularly if you someone who experiences anxiety 

Moving your body in any way that feels good for you 

Developing better sleep hygiene 

Limiting Stressors 

Implementing moments of mindfulness