Hand-Tracing Breathing

Why can it help?

Sometimes being told to “focus on your breathing” makes things harder. Hand tracing adds movement, touch and visual attention to the exercise.

As you slowly trace each finger, your brain has several neutral sensations to focus on while your breathing gradually slows. This can help redirect attention away from racing thoughts without requiring you to concentrate exclusively on what’s happening inside your body.

It can be particularly useful for people who prefer a more physical or sensory grounding technique.

Think: I’m giving my senses something safe and predictable to focus on.

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