Lived Experience Forum

[Margot]

How to improve your distress:

• Go for a walk
• Talk to a friend
• Watch videos on YouTube, TV, or a movie
• Do a puzzle
• Take a one hour vacation:
• Cook a meal
• Imagine turning down the volume on the feelings
• Be aware of the sounds around you
• Imagine a safe place
• Look at a picture of a beautiful place
• Slow breathing
• Count to 100

[Margot]

[Zoe7]

That is what is so wonderful about this community @Margot - it crosses off some of those things on that list all at once 

[Margot]

It's so difficult to give ourselves permission to let others in @Former-Member What do you think would help you to be able to be open with others so that you cna step out of that cycle?

[Sans911]

I have a coping/soothing box I made when I was doing DBT. It never really worked for me, however, I recently reworked it and have placed it in a prominent position so it easily seen. I think by reworking our coping boxes and refreshing the soothing options keeps it 'fresh'. Hopefully, I will get more use out of it this time.

[Swisschoc1]

Yes I have a 'self soothing box'. It has in it some shells I collected, a cute little book with positive quotes, a mindfulness cd, some lavender and a candle

[Margot]

As tonight’s Topic Tuesday comes to a close, I wondered whether each of you might be able to share one or two key things you’ll take with you from our discussion tonight?

[utopia]

In real life - if I see a puddle I jump in - splash! Love the sensations of jumping into a puddle. 

Jumping into the puddle during a distress stage  -  I worry I would jump into the puddle and just like the Vicar of Dibly - I will sink down and the water will be upto my neck.

[Zoe7]

For me it is the idea that we can't always identify our emotions at the time we are most distressed but it helps being able to 'talk' through what is going on for us and then learning strategies to help us cope better to then sit with those emotions.

[Zoe7]

ROFL @utopia love that episode of the Vicar of Dibley - and I hear you lol