Shari B. Kaplan, LCSW, teaches a simple jumping exercise to help trauma survivors reconnect with their bodies. The rhythmic movement sends sensory signals to the limbic system, helping unlock emotional regulation pathways. She recommends daily practice as a self-help tool for PTSD, depression, and other mental health challenges.
And the other thing that you can do with your patients, it comes out of Qi Gong, and it's just jumping up and down and letting your shoulders go. That creates proprioception. And the reason you do proprioception exercises is because many people who are struggling with mental health challenges or PTSD are not in their bodies. When you can get the bones at the joints going up and down like this, even if it's a little bit, you're getting signals going up to that limbic system that's all locked up and you're unlocking it. And if they could practice it a little bit every day, they'll be able to help themselves in the process of getting unlocked, whether it's depression or PTSD.
When Grief Feels Overwhelming: Finding Ground in Nature #mentalhealthawareness
