---
title: I recently remembered experiencing unwanted sexual contact... ~ Our Wave Community
description: Thank you for reaching out and sharing your story with us. I'm sorry to hear about what you went through. What you've described certainly sounds like it...
url: https://community.ourwave.org/en/answer/i-recently-remembered-experiencing-unwanted-sexual-contact-with-another-child-when-i-was-in-kindergarten-the-experiences-continued-for-about-two-years-and-included-various-forms-of-inappropriate-touch.md
---

{{customAnalyticsScripts}}

[\[Image: Our Wave Logo\]\[Image: Our Wave Logo\]](/en/)

[

Community

](/en/)[

Questions & Answers

](/en/learn)[

Find Support

](/en/resources)

Share story

Post a message

0

Users

0

Views

0

Reactions

0

Stories read

##### Need to take a break?

Try a grounding activity

For immediate help, visit {{resource}}

Show resources for

\[Image: United States\]United States

[\[Image: Argentina\]Argentina](/en/answer/i-recently-remembered-experiencing-unwanted-sexual-contact-with-another-child-when-i-was-in-kindergarten-the-experiences-continued-for-about-two-years-and-included-various-forms-of-inappropriate-touch?country=ar)[\[Image: Australia\]Australia](/en/answer/i-recently-remembered-experiencing-unwanted-sexual-contact-with-another-child-when-i-was-in-kindergarten-the-experiences-continued-for-about-two-years-and-included-various-forms-of-inappropriate-touch?country=au)[\[Image: Bolivia\]Bolivia](/en/answer/i-recently-remembered-experiencing-unwanted-sexual-contact-with-another-child-when-i-was-in-kindergarten-the-experiences-continued-for-about-two-years-and-included-various-forms-of-inappropriate-touch?country=bo)[\[Image: Canada\]Canada](/en/answer/i-recently-remembered-experiencing-unwanted-sexual-contact-with-another-child-when-i-was-in-kindergarten-the-experiences-continued-for-about-two-years-and-included-various-forms-of-inappropriate-touch?country=ca)[\[Image: Chile\]Chile](/en/answer/i-recently-remembered-experiencing-unwanted-sexual-contact-with-another-child-when-i-was-in-kindergarten-the-experiences-continued-for-about-two-years-and-included-various-forms-of-inappropriate-touch?country=cl)[\[Image: Colombia\]Colombia](/en/answer/i-recently-remembered-experiencing-unwanted-sexual-contact-with-another-child-when-i-was-in-kindergarten-the-experiences-continued-for-about-two-years-and-included-various-forms-of-inappropriate-touch?country=co)[\[Image: Costa Rica\]Costa Rica](/en/answer/i-recently-remembered-experiencing-unwanted-sexual-contact-with-another-child-when-i-was-in-kindergarten-the-experiences-continued-for-about-two-years-and-included-various-forms-of-inappropriate-touch?country=cr)[\[Image: Cuba\]Cuba](/en/answer/i-recently-remembered-experiencing-unwanted-sexual-contact-with-another-child-when-i-was-in-kindergarten-the-experiences-continued-for-about-two-years-and-included-various-forms-of-inappropriate-touch?country=cu)[\[Image: Dominican Republic\]Dominican Republic](/en/answer/i-recently-remembered-experiencing-unwanted-sexual-contact-with-another-child-when-i-was-in-kindergarten-the-experiences-continued-for-about-two-years-and-included-various-forms-of-inappropriate-touch?country=do)[\[Image: Ecuador\]Ecuador](/en/answer/i-recently-remembered-experiencing-unwanted-sexual-contact-with-another-child-when-i-was-in-kindergarten-the-experiences-continued-for-about-two-years-and-included-various-forms-of-inappropriate-touch?country=ec)[\[Image: El Salvador\]El Salvador](/en/answer/i-recently-remembered-experiencing-unwanted-sexual-contact-with-another-child-when-i-was-in-kindergarten-the-experiences-continued-for-about-two-years-and-included-various-forms-of-inappropriate-touch?country=sv)[\[Image: Equatorial Guinea\]Equatorial Guinea](/en/answer/i-recently-remembered-experiencing-unwanted-sexual-contact-with-another-child-when-i-was-in-kindergarten-the-experiences-continued-for-about-two-years-and-included-various-forms-of-inappropriate-touch?country=gq)[\[Image: Guatemala\]Guatemala](/en/answer/i-recently-remembered-experiencing-unwanted-sexual-contact-with-another-child-when-i-was-in-kindergarten-the-experiences-continued-for-about-two-years-and-included-various-forms-of-inappropriate-touch?country=gt)[\[Image: Honduras\]Honduras](/en/answer/i-recently-remembered-experiencing-unwanted-sexual-contact-with-another-child-when-i-was-in-kindergarten-the-experiences-continued-for-about-two-years-and-included-various-forms-of-inappropriate-touch?country=hn)[\[Image: Ireland\]Ireland](/en/answer/i-recently-remembered-experiencing-unwanted-sexual-contact-with-another-child-when-i-was-in-kindergarten-the-experiences-continued-for-about-two-years-and-included-various-forms-of-inappropriate-touch?country=ie)[\[Image: Japan\]Japan](/en/answer/i-recently-remembered-experiencing-unwanted-sexual-contact-with-another-child-when-i-was-in-kindergarten-the-experiences-continued-for-about-two-years-and-included-various-forms-of-inappropriate-touch?country=jp)[\[Image: Mexico\]Mexico](/en/answer/i-recently-remembered-experiencing-unwanted-sexual-contact-with-another-child-when-i-was-in-kindergarten-the-experiences-continued-for-about-two-years-and-included-various-forms-of-inappropriate-touch?country=mx)[\[Image: Nicaragua\]Nicaragua](/en/answer/i-recently-remembered-experiencing-unwanted-sexual-contact-with-another-child-when-i-was-in-kindergarten-the-experiences-continued-for-about-two-years-and-included-various-forms-of-inappropriate-touch?country=ni)[\[Image: New Zealand\]New Zealand](/en/answer/i-recently-remembered-experiencing-unwanted-sexual-contact-with-another-child-when-i-was-in-kindergarten-the-experiences-continued-for-about-two-years-and-included-various-forms-of-inappropriate-touch?country=nz)[\[Image: Panama\]Panama](/en/answer/i-recently-remembered-experiencing-unwanted-sexual-contact-with-another-child-when-i-was-in-kindergarten-the-experiences-continued-for-about-two-years-and-included-various-forms-of-inappropriate-touch?country=pa)[\[Image: Paraguay\]Paraguay](/en/answer/i-recently-remembered-experiencing-unwanted-sexual-contact-with-another-child-when-i-was-in-kindergarten-the-experiences-continued-for-about-two-years-and-included-various-forms-of-inappropriate-touch?country=py)[\[Image: Peru\]Peru](/en/answer/i-recently-remembered-experiencing-unwanted-sexual-contact-with-another-child-when-i-was-in-kindergarten-the-experiences-continued-for-about-two-years-and-included-various-forms-of-inappropriate-touch?country=pe)[\[Image: Puerto Rico\]Puerto Rico](/en/answer/i-recently-remembered-experiencing-unwanted-sexual-contact-with-another-child-when-i-was-in-kindergarten-the-experiences-continued-for-about-two-years-and-included-various-forms-of-inappropriate-touch?country=pr)[\[Image: Spain\]Spain](/en/answer/i-recently-remembered-experiencing-unwanted-sexual-contact-with-another-child-when-i-was-in-kindergarten-the-experiences-continued-for-about-two-years-and-included-various-forms-of-inappropriate-touch?country=es)[\[Image: United Kingdom\]United Kingdom](/en/answer/i-recently-remembered-experiencing-unwanted-sexual-contact-with-another-child-when-i-was-in-kindergarten-the-experiences-continued-for-about-two-years-and-included-various-forms-of-inappropriate-touch?country=gb)[\[Image: Uruguay\]Uruguay](/en/answer/i-recently-remembered-experiencing-unwanted-sexual-contact-with-another-child-when-i-was-in-kindergarten-the-experiences-continued-for-about-two-years-and-included-various-forms-of-inappropriate-touch?country=uy)[\[Image: Venezuela\]Venezuela](/en/answer/i-recently-remembered-experiencing-unwanted-sexual-contact-with-another-child-when-i-was-in-kindergarten-the-experiences-continued-for-about-two-years-and-included-various-forms-of-inappropriate-touch?country=ve)

English

[English](/en/answer/i-recently-remembered-experiencing-unwanted-sexual-contact-with-another-child-when-i-was-in-kindergarten-the-experiences-continued-for-about-two-years-and-included-various-forms-of-inappropriate-touch)[Español](/es/answer/i-recently-remembered-experiencing-unwanted-sexual-contact-with-another-child-when-i-was-in-kindergarten-the-experiences-continued-for-about-two-years-and-included-various-forms-of-inappropriate-touch)[日本語](/ja/answer/i-recently-remembered-experiencing-unwanted-sexual-contact-with-another-child-when-i-was-in-kindergarten-the-experiences-continued-for-about-two-years-and-included-various-forms-of-inappropriate-touch)

[

About Us

](https://www.ourwave.org/en/who-we-are)

Made with in Raleigh, NC

Read our [Community Guidelines](https://www.ourwave.org/en/community-guidelines), [Privacy Policy](https://www.ourwave.org/en/privacy), and [Terms](https://www.ourwave.org/en/terms)

Have feedback? Send it to us

🇧🇬

# I recently remembered experiencing unwanted sexual contact with another child when I was in kindergarten. The experiences continued for about two years and included various forms of inappropriate touching and contact. The other child was the same age as me. This happened frequently, often in front of other children and adults, and I remember feeling distressed and trying to get away. The adults present seemed to notice but didn't take serious measures to stop what was happening. Until recently, I only remembered parts of what happened, but this week I suddenly remembered much more detail. I'm wondering if this counts as childhood sexual abuse, and how it might have affected me mentally - I remember being depressed as a child but never understood why. Why did it take so long for me to remember everything that happened?

\[Image: Dr. Laura\]

Answer by **Dr. Laura**

PhD Mental Health Nurse & Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner

Topics:[Making sense of childhood experiences](/en/learn?tags=making-sense-of-childhood-experiences)

Thank you for reaching out and sharing your story with us. I'm sorry to hear about what you went through. What you've described certainly sounds like it aligns with characteristics associated with what is called [Child-on-Child Sexual Abuse (COCSA)](https://community.ourwave.org/_external/link?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ourwave.org%2Fpost%2Fchild-on-child-sexual-abuse-cocsa-frequently-asked-questions-and-considerations&resourceId=non_specific&localeId=en&countryId=us&src=answer&questionId=09a3ef86-3e95-42d2-baa4-3216c9ede14a&sig=70057f8a74f400b6505c541482fb4f8fbcb1f1464a84ec8c39f3ccf3b9ff0413). The behaviors you experienced—such as inappropriate touching, forced physical contact, and the violation of your personal boundaries while you were clearly distressed—represent serious harmful experiences regardless of the ages involved. The fact that these actions were against your will, caused you distress, and happened repeatedly over two years is significant. Your feelings of distress, fear, and attempts to get away clearly indicate that these were not wanted interactions or normal childhood exploration.

Children at such a young age typically lack a full understanding of appropriate boundaries and the implications of their actions. When one child engages in sexually harmful behavior towards another, it can sometimes indicate that they have been exposed to inappropriate sexual content or experiences themselves. It's compassionate of you to consider what the other child might have been through, but it's equally important to acknowledge the serious impact his actions had on you. Your empathy toward him doesn't diminish the reality or severity of what you experienced.

Experiencing such harmful interactions in early childhood can have lasting effects on mental and emotional well-being. The depression you experienced during childhood could certainly be connected to these experiences. Trauma can affect how we see ourselves, how we trust others, and how we process emotions, often manifesting in symptoms like depression, anxiety, difficulty with relationships, and problems with boundaries. These effects can persist into adulthood, sometimes without us fully realizing the connection to past events until memories resurface.

The delayed recall you're experiencing is actually very common among survivors of childhood trauma. It's not uncommon for people to repress or block out traumatic memories, especially when they occur in childhood. This is a protective mechanism our minds use to shield us from overwhelming pain and distress when we lack the cognitive framework to process what's happening to us. Memories of trauma can resurface later in life, often triggered by certain events, stress, developmental milestones, or simply when we feel safer and more mature. The sudden recall of these memories can be confusing and upsetting, but it's a natural process as your mind tries to process and make sense of past experiences. There's nothing unusual about remembering more details now at 18 - your brain may finally feel ready to process these experiences more fully.

It's also crucial to recognize that the adults who witnessed this behavior failed in their fundamental duty to protect you. Regardless of the circumstances, adults have a responsibility to ensure children's safety and to intervene decisively when one child is clearly harming another. Their inaction was a serious failure of the systems that should have kept you safe, and you deserved much better protection than you received.

You deserve support, understanding, and compassion as you work through this difficult time. Consider reaching out to a mental health professional who is experienced in working with childhood trauma. They can help you process what happened, explore how you want to understand and frame your experiences, and work through any ongoing impacts these experiences may have on your life.

Remember, you're not alone in this journey, and what happened to you was absolutely not your fault. You deserve understanding, validation, and support as you navigate these memories and begin your healing process.

Random Question

0 Upvote(s) Upvote(s)

[

0 Comment(s) Comment(s)

](/en/answer/i-recently-remembered-experiencing-unwanted-sexual-contact-with-another-child-when-i-was-in-kindergarten-the-experiences-continued-for-about-two-years-and-included-various-forms-of-inappropriate-touch#comments)

### Discard message?

You have a comment in progress, are you sure you want to discard it?

Cancel

Discard

##### Similar community content

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit. Aenean commodo ligula eget dolor. Aenean massa. Cum sociis natoque penatibus et magnis dis parturient montes, nascetur ridiculus mus. Donec quam felis, ultricies nec, pellentesque eu, pretium quis, sem. Nulla consequat massa quis enim. Donec pede justo, fringilla vel, aliquet nec, vulputate

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit. Aenean commodo ligula eget dolor. Aenean massa. Cum sociis natoque penatibus et magnis dis parturient montes, nascetur ridiculus mus. Donec quam felis, ultricies nec, pellentesque eu, pretium quis, sem. Nulla consequat massa quis enim. Donec pede justo, fringilla vel, aliquet nec, vulputate

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit. Aenean commodo ligula eget dolor. Aenean massa. Cum sociis natoque penatibus et magnis dis parturient montes, nascetur ridiculus mus. Donec quam felis, ultricies nec, pellentesque eu, pretium quis, sem. Nulla consequat massa quis enim. Donec pede justo, fringilla vel, aliquet nec, vulputate

0

Users

0

Views

0

Reactions

0

Stories read

##### Need to take a break?

Try a grounding activity

For immediate help, visit {{resource}}

Show resources for

\[Image: United States\]United States

[\[Image: Argentina\]Argentina](/en/answer/i-recently-remembered-experiencing-unwanted-sexual-contact-with-another-child-when-i-was-in-kindergarten-the-experiences-continued-for-about-two-years-and-included-various-forms-of-inappropriate-touch?country=ar)[\[Image: Australia\]Australia](/en/answer/i-recently-remembered-experiencing-unwanted-sexual-contact-with-another-child-when-i-was-in-kindergarten-the-experiences-continued-for-about-two-years-and-included-various-forms-of-inappropriate-touch?country=au)[\[Image: Bolivia\]Bolivia](/en/answer/i-recently-remembered-experiencing-unwanted-sexual-contact-with-another-child-when-i-was-in-kindergarten-the-experiences-continued-for-about-two-years-and-included-various-forms-of-inappropriate-touch?country=bo)[\[Image: Canada\]Canada](/en/answer/i-recently-remembered-experiencing-unwanted-sexual-contact-with-another-child-when-i-was-in-kindergarten-the-experiences-continued-for-about-two-years-and-included-various-forms-of-inappropriate-touch?country=ca)[\[Image: Chile\]Chile](/en/answer/i-recently-remembered-experiencing-unwanted-sexual-contact-with-another-child-when-i-was-in-kindergarten-the-experiences-continued-for-about-two-years-and-included-various-forms-of-inappropriate-touch?country=cl)[\[Image: Colombia\]Colombia](/en/answer/i-recently-remembered-experiencing-unwanted-sexual-contact-with-another-child-when-i-was-in-kindergarten-the-experiences-continued-for-about-two-years-and-included-various-forms-of-inappropriate-touch?country=co)[\[Image: Costa Rica\]Costa Rica](/en/answer/i-recently-remembered-experiencing-unwanted-sexual-contact-with-another-child-when-i-was-in-kindergarten-the-experiences-continued-for-about-two-years-and-included-various-forms-of-inappropriate-touch?country=cr)[\[Image: Cuba\]Cuba](/en/answer/i-recently-remembered-experiencing-unwanted-sexual-contact-with-another-child-when-i-was-in-kindergarten-the-experiences-continued-for-about-two-years-and-included-various-forms-of-inappropriate-touch?country=cu)[\[Image: Dominican Republic\]Dominican Republic](/en/answer/i-recently-remembered-experiencing-unwanted-sexual-contact-with-another-child-when-i-was-in-kindergarten-the-experiences-continued-for-about-two-years-and-included-various-forms-of-inappropriate-touch?country=do)[\[Image: Ecuador\]Ecuador](/en/answer/i-recently-remembered-experiencing-unwanted-sexual-contact-with-another-child-when-i-was-in-kindergarten-the-experiences-continued-for-about-two-years-and-included-various-forms-of-inappropriate-touch?country=ec)[\[Image: El Salvador\]El Salvador](/en/answer/i-recently-remembered-experiencing-unwanted-sexual-contact-with-another-child-when-i-was-in-kindergarten-the-experiences-continued-for-about-two-years-and-included-various-forms-of-inappropriate-touch?country=sv)[\[Image: Equatorial Guinea\]Equatorial Guinea](/en/answer/i-recently-remembered-experiencing-unwanted-sexual-contact-with-another-child-when-i-was-in-kindergarten-the-experiences-continued-for-about-two-years-and-included-various-forms-of-inappropriate-touch?country=gq)[\[Image: Guatemala\]Guatemala](/en/answer/i-recently-remembered-experiencing-unwanted-sexual-contact-with-another-child-when-i-was-in-kindergarten-the-experiences-continued-for-about-two-years-and-included-various-forms-of-inappropriate-touch?country=gt)[\[Image: Honduras\]Honduras](/en/answer/i-recently-remembered-experiencing-unwanted-sexual-contact-with-another-child-when-i-was-in-kindergarten-the-experiences-continued-for-about-two-years-and-included-various-forms-of-inappropriate-touch?country=hn)[\[Image: Ireland\]Ireland](/en/answer/i-recently-remembered-experiencing-unwanted-sexual-contact-with-another-child-when-i-was-in-kindergarten-the-experiences-continued-for-about-two-years-and-included-various-forms-of-inappropriate-touch?country=ie)[\[Image: Japan\]Japan](/en/answer/i-recently-remembered-experiencing-unwanted-sexual-contact-with-another-child-when-i-was-in-kindergarten-the-experiences-continued-for-about-two-years-and-included-various-forms-of-inappropriate-touch?country=jp)[\[Image: Mexico\]Mexico](/en/answer/i-recently-remembered-experiencing-unwanted-sexual-contact-with-another-child-when-i-was-in-kindergarten-the-experiences-continued-for-about-two-years-and-included-various-forms-of-inappropriate-touch?country=mx)[\[Image: Nicaragua\]Nicaragua](/en/answer/i-recently-remembered-experiencing-unwanted-sexual-contact-with-another-child-when-i-was-in-kindergarten-the-experiences-continued-for-about-two-years-and-included-various-forms-of-inappropriate-touch?country=ni)[\[Image: New Zealand\]New Zealand](/en/answer/i-recently-remembered-experiencing-unwanted-sexual-contact-with-another-child-when-i-was-in-kindergarten-the-experiences-continued-for-about-two-years-and-included-various-forms-of-inappropriate-touch?country=nz)[\[Image: Panama\]Panama](/en/answer/i-recently-remembered-experiencing-unwanted-sexual-contact-with-another-child-when-i-was-in-kindergarten-the-experiences-continued-for-about-two-years-and-included-various-forms-of-inappropriate-touch?country=pa)[\[Image: Paraguay\]Paraguay](/en/answer/i-recently-remembered-experiencing-unwanted-sexual-contact-with-another-child-when-i-was-in-kindergarten-the-experiences-continued-for-about-two-years-and-included-various-forms-of-inappropriate-touch?country=py)[\[Image: Peru\]Peru](/en/answer/i-recently-remembered-experiencing-unwanted-sexual-contact-with-another-child-when-i-was-in-kindergarten-the-experiences-continued-for-about-two-years-and-included-various-forms-of-inappropriate-touch?country=pe)[\[Image: Puerto Rico\]Puerto Rico](/en/answer/i-recently-remembered-experiencing-unwanted-sexual-contact-with-another-child-when-i-was-in-kindergarten-the-experiences-continued-for-about-two-years-and-included-various-forms-of-inappropriate-touch?country=pr)[\[Image: Spain\]Spain](/en/answer/i-recently-remembered-experiencing-unwanted-sexual-contact-with-another-child-when-i-was-in-kindergarten-the-experiences-continued-for-about-two-years-and-included-various-forms-of-inappropriate-touch?country=es)[\[Image: United Kingdom\]United Kingdom](/en/answer/i-recently-remembered-experiencing-unwanted-sexual-contact-with-another-child-when-i-was-in-kindergarten-the-experiences-continued-for-about-two-years-and-included-various-forms-of-inappropriate-touch?country=gb)[\[Image: Uruguay\]Uruguay](/en/answer/i-recently-remembered-experiencing-unwanted-sexual-contact-with-another-child-when-i-was-in-kindergarten-the-experiences-continued-for-about-two-years-and-included-various-forms-of-inappropriate-touch?country=uy)[\[Image: Venezuela\]Venezuela](/en/answer/i-recently-remembered-experiencing-unwanted-sexual-contact-with-another-child-when-i-was-in-kindergarten-the-experiences-continued-for-about-two-years-and-included-various-forms-of-inappropriate-touch?country=ve)

English

[English](/en/answer/i-recently-remembered-experiencing-unwanted-sexual-contact-with-another-child-when-i-was-in-kindergarten-the-experiences-continued-for-about-two-years-and-included-various-forms-of-inappropriate-touch)[Español](/es/answer/i-recently-remembered-experiencing-unwanted-sexual-contact-with-another-child-when-i-was-in-kindergarten-the-experiences-continued-for-about-two-years-and-included-various-forms-of-inappropriate-touch)[日本語](/ja/answer/i-recently-remembered-experiencing-unwanted-sexual-contact-with-another-child-when-i-was-in-kindergarten-the-experiences-continued-for-about-two-years-and-included-various-forms-of-inappropriate-touch)

For immediate help, visit {{resource}}

Made with in Raleigh, NC

|

Read our [Community Guidelines](https://www.ourwave.org/en/community-guidelines), [Privacy Policy](https://www.ourwave.org/en/privacy), and [Terms](https://www.ourwave.org/en/terms)

|

[

#### Resources

](/en/resources)

### Post a Message

Share a message of support with the community.

Continue

We will send you an email as soon as your message is posted, as well as send helpful resources and support.

Post

Please adhere to our [Community Guidelines](https://www.ourwave.org/en/community-guidelines) to help us keep Our Wave a safe space. All messages will be reviewed and identifying information removed before they are posted.

### Ask a Question

Ask a question about survivorship or supporting survivors.

Continue

We will send you an email as soon as your question is answered, as well as send helpful resources and support.

Submit

### How can we help?

Tell us why you are reporting this content. Our moderation team will review your report shortly.

Violence, hate, or exploitation

Threats, hateful language, or sexual coercion

Bullying or unwanted contact

Harassment, intimidation, or persistent unwanted messages

Scam, fraud, or impersonation

Deceptive requests or claiming to be someone else

False information

Misleading claims or deliberate disinformation

Submit

### Share Feedback

Tell us what’s working (and what isn't) so we can keep improving.

Submit

### Log in

Enter the email you used to submit to Our Wave and we'll send you a magic link to access your profile.

Send link

Grounding activity

Find a comfortable place to sit. Gently close your eyes and take a couple of deep breaths - in through your nose (count to 3), out through your mouth (count of 3). Now open your eyes and look around you. Name the following out loud:

5 – things you can see (you can look within the room and out of the window)

4 – things you can feel (what is in front of you that you can touch?)

3 – things you can hear

2 – things you can smell

1 – thing you like about yourself.

Take a deep breath to end.

From where you are sitting, look around for things that have a texture or are nice or interesting to look at.

Hold an object in your hand and bring your full focus to it. Look at where shadows fall on parts of it or maybe where there are shapes that form within the object. Feel how heavy or light it is in your hand and what the surface texture feels like under your fingers (This can also be done with a pet if you have one).

Take a deep breath to end.

Ask yourself the following questions and answer them out loud:

1\. Where am I?

2\. What day of the week is today?

3\. What is today’s date?

4\. What is the current month?

5\. What is the current year?

6\. How old am I?

7\. What season is it?

Take a deep breath to end.

Put your right hand palm down on your left shoulder. Put your left hand palm down on your right shoulder. Choose a sentence that will strengthen you. For example: “I am powerful.” Say the sentence out loud first and pat your right hand on your left shoulder, then your left hand on your right shoulder.

Alternate the patting. Do ten pats altogether, five on each side, each time repeating your sentences aloud.

Take a deep breath to end.

Cross your arms in front of you and draw them towards your chest. With your right hand, hold your left upper arm. With your left hand, hold your right upper arm. Squeeze gently, and pull your arms inwards. Hold the squeeze for a little while, finding the right amount of squeeze for you in this moment. Hold the tension and release. Then squeeze for a little while again and release. Stay like that for a moment.

Take a deep breath to end.

Try another grounding activity

I feel grounded and ready