Toolkit: Handling Being Out & About

[James B.]

I never leave home without the ability to deny just how mean, psycho and aggressive people really are...

Then I am fine.

 

[KP the nut]

I always carry,

crystals
a moss agate turtle (very small)
essential lemon oil
my phone
iPod (which has an audiobook, music and a visualisation exercise which my T recorded for me)
money
a hand held fan (hot flushes)

 

[Lionheart]

I usually carry;

an Apache tear in my pocket (It is pitch black but when held up to the light you can see right through it, just like people;) (It also reminds me of my Cherokee ancestors who were marched out the trail of tears).

my credit cards (for emergencies).

something to drink (to ease the dry mouth from the medications)

I always walk like I am in a hurry to get somewhere (not sure why I do that. lol)

Music (to help soothe the emotions)

cell phone and list of phone numbers (for emergencies and to keep me connected to family and friends)

a positive attitude and a sense of humor (indispensable protection from the negativity of other people)

a fist (picked that up in the military, guess it makes me feel like I am prepared to fight if necessary)

medical information (Such as current medications, blood type, allergies etc)

2 days worth of medication in case I get stranded somewhere.

 

[maddog]

For me, I never leave home without:

My phone - it's my psychological and practical link to my few trusted people and has become my most prized possession.

Portable radio or ipod - almost always have it on, though often not playing, but just to keep potentially intrusive strangers away from me and give the impression of my being totally preoccupied. In honesty I can only stand to have it on when I'm stationary, like someone else said, too scared I'd miss some important environmental stimulus otherwise.

Mints - for distraction, and also because I'm prone to odd dizzy spells which are part anxiety and part a medical condition, but which can be helped sometimes by sugar.

my service dog, Del - again, a given, she never leaves my side.

A micro digital recorder with some grounding exercises on it read by my T - more of a grounding object than a practical aid thesedays, as I long ago learned the exercises by heart.

My "fake it" persona - I put this on whenI get dressed each morning.

Some hope for a good day - always the last thingI pick up as I walk out the door.

Maddog

 

[KP the nut]

A micro digital recorder with some grounding exercises on it read by my T - more of a grounding object than a practical aid thesedays, as I long ago learned the exercises by heart.

I think it is my Ts voice which calms me as much as the exercise. I always felt safe with him, in his ability to bring me back from wherever I am stuck.

 

[maddog]

Absolutely, KP, this is exactly the point for me too. Sometimes I listen to it for only that reason. The soothing effect is enormous and while he didn't say so specifically, I am sure he was aware and chose to record the information for that reason, rather than to just give it to me in hard copy. It's always the smallest things that hit so deeply.

 

[BloomInWinter]

My T.'s voice now in my head...'Pause....breathe....think....respond....'

...which both frightens me that he's in there....but comforts me with wisdom.

Yikes.

 

[Grama-Herc]

Never thought about this, but guess I've always had a "tool kit" too. Gotta have my phone and a hand held ladies type fan. Also must have my medical info folder, and I always tell someone--mostly mom--exactly where I am going and the roads I'm taking to get there. But then the agoraphobia keeps me in the house most of the time. Not to social, except for going out to buy food and meds.

 

[angel2write]

The earplugs are a good idea, and I think it's cool how many other people carry mints and water! I always seem to get thirsty when I'm nervous. Guess I'm not the only one.

In my purse I always have:

-My phone & wallet (of course)
-A change of clothes, trash bag, and a package of wipes (for my youngest).
-A notebook & pens (for essential lists and writing down info, taking down directions, etc. Otherwise I get confused.)
-My bible (or I forget to bring it to church)
-Sunglasses
-Very strong mints for grounding.
-water bottle (I recently bought a Bobble and I love it- filtered water on the go!)
-A first-aid kit with a small pharmacy in it
-Another first aid kit with chapstick, scented hand lotion, female stuff, safety pins, and hair bands, brush and hair pins (when I'm panicking I can start getting triggered by my own hair so I need hair things to get it off my face.)
-Address book full of numbers I might need.
-Hand sanitizer
-Sunscreen
-Small packs of peanuts or other snack foods.

I also have a knife, flashlight, and nail clippers on my keys. There is duct tape, more medicine, more sunscreen, trashbags and maps of EVERYWHERE I go in the glove compartment, a changing pad under the seat, and chairs and a blanket in the back of the van.

In addition to this, I often carry a second bag with my current book, knitting project, stuffed animal, camera, baseball cap and scissors.

It used to be worse. When I was in high school I carried most of that plus matches, an emergency sewing kit, a flashlight, and a screwdriver, too. In addition to my backpack.

You know, reading over this, it is a little crazy. Add bags of school things, diaper bag, lunch cooler, bags of library books, coats, hats... we probably look like Sherpas every time we leave the house.

I think maybe I have emergency preparedness issues. :oops:

 

[BloomInWinter]

This is getting easier for me...I don't have to have quite such a 'list' of things to carry like talismans.

My internal distress controls are helping me have resources I can call up as I need to. MOSTLY.

Depends on the day, the people I'm with, the stress I'm under...the chocolate supply stashed in the toilet tank.

:p

 

[Heather]

.the chocolate supply stashed in the toilet tank.

Bloom, isn't there a better place to hide the chocolate than in the toilet?:)

 

[BloomInWinter]

Not in our house! :0