PTSD
Panic
Anxiety
⚡ Quick
Butterfly Hug

Cross your arms over your chest and alternately tap your shoulders, a self-soothing bilateral stimulation technique.
Why it works
The bilateral stimulation helps process distress while the self-hug position activates self-soothing neural circuits.
Arms
Cross your arms over your chest. Each hand rests on the opposite shoulder, like giving yourself a hug.
Take about 1-2 minutes for this step.
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