I had a close relationship with my grandma, who lived with us throughout my childhood. I remember sitting next to her on the sofa watching TV and she would often stroke my arm almost absent mindedly.
This memory came to mind listening to Kristen Neff talking about the healing power of touch (Science of Happiness podcast, 19 September 2024). In the podcast she talks about a range of techniques that can be used if we’re feeling anxious or stressed such as touching your heart, holding your face as you might comfort someone in distress or simply giving yourself a gentle hug.
Listening to the podcast I found myself drawn to some of the techniques described and not to others. I also realised that I have developed my own technique of using to self-soothe. As I grew up and left home, I would often find myself stroking my arm when feeling anxious or uncertain. This enabled me to connect with that sense of comfort and closeness of sitting next to my grandma.
If you are interested in hearing the podcast or reading the transcript for the podcast go to:
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