Summary: This emotional awareness relaxation is a sensory relaxation process that can allow you to become more aware of feelings based on the sensory experience of an emotion. This script is especially relevant for survivors of trauma, but can also be effective for anyone who wants to better understand emotions. By familiarizing yourself with the sensory experience of emotions, you can become skilled at recognizing what it is you are feeling in a given moment, and address both positive negative emotions you experience in daily life. The word "feeling" is used to refer to emotions and to sensations. This is because emotions and sensations are closely linked. The connection between the mind and body causes emotional responses to be reflected in the physical body. The book "The Body Remembers: The Psychophysioloy of Trauma and Trauma Treatment," by Babette Rothschild, discusses emotions and the body. This book provides more information about the concept of emotions as a physical body experience. In this emotional awareness relaxation script, I'll guide you to focus on feelings, one at a time, and notice the effect of each emotion on your body. As you do this exercise, be aware that some of the feelings are unpleasant, but this discomfort can be important and helpful. You will spend about half a minute with each feeling. It is important to be aware of the fact that some parts of this emotional awareness relaxation script will be uncomfortable. Before beginning the emotional awareness relaxation exercise, I'll guide you to create a safety zone in your mind. If any aspects of this exercise become too uncomfortable, you can mentally go to the safety zone for a break. Make sure to keep yourself safe and respect your limits when doing this or any other relaxation exercise.
