Tracing uses hand movement to modify our stress/trauma response

each hand has 17,000 mechanoreceptors, receptors that sense touch, temperature, pressure, vibration, texture, pain, skin stretch and the position of our body in space (proprioception). With this wealth of sensory input, our hands are excellent resources for repairing the mind-body connection, which is disrupted by stress and trauma. As we move our hands, our stressed brain begins attending to the various sensations and distracts from the anxiety. Tracing occupies our hands (which can ‘hold’ a lot of our stress), enabling them to relax.

stress and trauma disrupt our thinking and feelings. Complex thinking can become difficult. Engaging in familiar, multi-sensory activities such as tracing, can “re-start” the brain (get us into our “thinking brain”) which helps to stabilize our mind and also calm our “feeling brain”
uses distraction for coping: focuses our attention on a neutral cognitive activity, giving us space from the stress/trauma, allowing us to “re-set”

Trace the lines in any direction and any pattern. Draw your own designs to trace.