How does the physical sensation of a rubber band aid in grounding during anxiety episodes?

It introduces a concrete, physical sensation that anchors awareness back to the body and the immediate environment.

Anxiety frequently causes dissociation, pulling the mind away from the present moment into worries about the past or future. Grounding techniques, such as using a rubber band, counter this by providing a definitive, external stimulus. The deliberate act of noticing the tactile input—whether it is the pressure of wearing it or the shock of a snap—serves as a powerful anchor. This physical input is sufficient to override the internal noise of worry and reorient the nervous system back to the immediate reality, bringing the individual's awareness back into their body and present surroundings.