Move Your Feet COPECARD®
How It Works
Stress and trauma are “stored” / “held” in the body. Movement helps “un-store” them, reducing and managing their impact. Movement:
loosens tight muscles, lowering the body’s contribution to feeling anxious
reduces stress hormones (adrenaline/cortisol), lowering blood pressure
increases serotonin and dopamine, improving emotional processing, memory and attention
increases endorphins, the body's natural painkillers, antidepressant + mood elevators
activates the ventral hippocampus, our brain part involved in regulating emotions and anxiety, enabling us to lower our distress.
Movement “sets in motion” a cascade of physiological management tools for feelings and thoughts. Start moving to your feet to cope.
How to Use
The goal is to move your body, be it large muscles (arms/legs), small muscles (hands and feet) or both. Note the sensations - your feet touching the ground, your feet and legs moving in the air, your arms helping you move and to stay in balance. By focusing on your body, you help your nervous system become “unstuck” and move out of an immobilized, stress-response state. Mix it up - move your feet while sitting, while standing, with your arms at your side, with your arms outstretched. Add some rhythm: make the steps into a dance. Make up your own steps. Move your feet and move your hands in the same motion.
When to Use - Signs of Stress/Trauma
immobilized, freezing, not moving
preoccupied, worried, overwhelmed
anxious, panicked, agitated
hypervigilant: scanning for danger
mind is racing
withdrawn: struggling to connect with others
What It Can Do
relieve stress, muscle tension
lower risk for depression
decrease anxiety, depression
occupy your mind, distract you from distressed feelings
improve mood, increase control over feelings (self-regulation)
improve memory, concentration
improve body awareness
promote integration of mind, feelings and body, improving self-control and self-efficacy