# AI recommends grounding techniques for dissociation without assessing trauma history or risk of flashback

- **ID:** `mental-health/dissociation-grounding-techniques`
- **Domain:** mental-health
- **Category:** data_error
- **Error Code:** `DISSOC-GROUND-001`
- **Verification:** ai_generated
- **Fix Rate:** 79%

## Root Cause

Grounding techniques can trigger traumatic flashbacks in users with PTSD if they involve sensory stimuli associated with the trauma (e.g., cold water for assault survivors); AI must screen for trauma type first.

## Workarounds

1. **Ask a screening question before grounding: 'Does any of your trauma involve sensory experiences like cold, heat, specific sounds, or textures? If yes, avoid those senses in grounding.' Then offer a customized exercise.** (90% success)
   ```
   Ask a screening question before grounding: 'Does any of your trauma involve sensory experiences like cold, heat, specific sounds, or textures? If yes, avoid those senses in grounding.' Then offer a customized exercise.
   ```
2. **Offer a 'neutral' grounding option that uses cognitive tasks instead of sensory stimuli, such as counting backward by 7 from 100 or reciting a poem.** (85% success)
   ```
   Offer a 'neutral' grounding option that uses cognitive tasks instead of sensory stimuli, such as counting backward by 7 from 100 or reciting a poem.
   ```
3. **Provide a 'safe grounding' menu where user selects from categories they confirm are safe: visual (look for round objects), auditory (listen for 3 distinct sounds), or proprioceptive (press feet into floor).** (80% success)
   ```
   Provide a 'safe grounding' menu where user selects from categories they confirm are safe: visual (look for round objects), auditory (listen for 3 distinct sounds), or proprioceptive (press feet into floor).
   ```

## Dead Ends

- **** — Ice or cold sensations can trigger memories of cold-related trauma (e.g., being held in cold room, water immersion) (70% fail)
- **** — Naming 'things you see' can cause hypervigilance if trauma involved visual threats; user may feel unsafe in current environment (65% fail)
- **** — Certain textures (e.g., rough fabric, metal) may be associated with trauma; user may not anticipate this (55% fail)