kalmering

Kalmering is the act or process of bringing a person, situation, or environment into a calmer state by reducing agitation, arousal, or stress. In Dutch, the noun kalmering derives from the verb kalmeren, meaning to calm or soothe. The term is used across health care, psychology, education, and everyday language to describe techniques and outcomes that promote tranquility.

Applications and contexts include health care and crisis intervention, where kalmering refers to strategies that decrease distress in patients, clients, or settings. It spans non-pharmacological approaches—such as controlled breathing, mindfulness, progressive muscle relaxation, gentle communication, and environmental adjustments like lowered noise or softer lighting—and pharmacological methods, such as anxiolytic or sedative medications, when appropriate and supervised.

Non-pharmacological methods are typically first-line, aiming to reduce sympathetic arousal without medications. They can be implemented by clinicians, caregivers, teachers, or family members and are used in settings such as dentistry, emergency care, and mental health to lower anxiety, improve cooperation, and prevent escalation.

Pharmacological kalmering involves medications used to induce sedation or reduce agitation under medical supervision. These interventions require careful assessment of benefits and risks, including possible side effects and dependence. The term’s exact meaning can vary by context, and translations to English as calming, sedation, or de-escalation depend on the situation being described.