A First Aid Box For When I'm Not Feeling Well.

[NoWhereKnowWhere]

So I read somewhere (I can't for the life of me remember where the amount of PTSD related reading I do) its a good idea to have a sort of first aid box/kit with things in it that evoke positive emotions. I have a box and I have spent a lot of time over the last few days decorating (decopatché) with beautiful paper and some wonder woman comic books I'm thinking of lining it with something too(I'll post a picture when its done). Even thinking about what I'm going to put in it and decorating it have made we feel better than I have done in weeks.
What I thought of putting in:

A photo of my partner.
Prayer beads (a gift from a close friend)
Chocolate.
A tiny little toy my niece gave me.
A rainy day letter from my self. (A letter one writes ones self when you feel in good spirits, self accepting and positive)
My favourite smelling Yankee candle that reminds me of a very special day.
Maybe a piece of fabric I like the feeling of.
Etc

Basically a box of soothing, distracting and anchoring items to open up and delve in to when/if (let's stay positive here) the need arises.
The thought behind it is to practice some self humility I think we spend a huge amount of time feeling guilty and blaming our selves. We may even physically harm our selves, this doesn't change what happened or make us feel better in fact it makes it worse. I need to learn self humility and love and so instead of reaching for that dark thought or razor blade I will reach for my first aid box. Xx

 

[franciemarnie]

Cool idea!

 

[Meadowsweet]

That's an excellent idea.

 

[Deleted member 1860]

We made these in the trauma hospital. It is a good idea!

Although, I hate mine because it reminds me of the worst time in my life. I need to throw it away... Then again, I'm to the point of working on soothing from within, so it's not needed anymore. So here's to you getting to the point of not needing your box anymore! Lol. In the meantime, it's a really good tool to have.

 

[Maggiemay]

I was going to make one 18months ago, when I was at my worst, in constant flashback hell, but never did. They're such a good idea :)

 

[Tinyflame]

I can't quite get the 'soothing' from stuff, but photos 'would' remind me of others' existence (at really rough moments). But I do have a rock with a saying on it in my purse (which is getting heavier and heavier, lol). Maybe too as someone said on the forum 'like a golf swing card' was the recommendation- a list of what steps to take (breathe, a phone number, a saying, whatever, to help feel better. Oh ya, and I put sayings on my phone).

Good idea, good for you @NoWhereKnowWhere . :tup: :hug:

 

[Maggiemay]

I made crib cards a while ago to carry around so when feel different emotions e.g. panic/dissociation/flashbacks etc. it gives me strategies to use to gound myself and phrases to say to myself - if I was compous mentous enough to remember them they were helpful, but I need to use the before reaching the extreme as null and void eg when full dissociated I can't move/see/know who I am/acess rational thought...

 

[The Albatross]

I had a trinket box my brother gave me with a red fused glass heart (he gave it to me for my birthday). In the box I put lots of odd things, a petrified sharks tooth from St. Petersburg, a feather I found after my dad died, a smooth skipping stone I'd kept from a trip with my grandparents, a bible verse in a prayer box a sponsor had given me from AA, some other things that people who'd touched my life gave me, even my sobriety coins from AA. Those for me were soothing things. It was a long time before I could look at photos. I think Junebug that may be what was meant by soothing things.

 

[NoWhereKnowWhere]

@Junebug @Maggiemay @The Albatross some more excellent ideas for my first aid box. I might need a bigger box haha. I have a stone I keep with me at all times I got it from the beach. It reminds me of the day me and my partner went to the beach with our dog it was a lovely day. It's about time my memories are working in my favour.

 

[Tinyflame]

Thanks @The Albatross , I understand, same here, re: photos.

Good for you @NoWhereKnowWhere .