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Distractions during therapy

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One time, a therapist and I colored together in a therapy session as we talked.
Wow I bet that was good might suggest it to mine .

I played a board game with my therapist last session. I walked in and she was finishing putting st...
I have already been in therapy for years and so hey cptsd has kicked me in the ass again, when I thought I had worked through all of my stuff, oh the joys of this ptsd crap xx
 
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I have natural fidgeters...my fingers, my rings, my glasses, my pen, and when push comes to too much shoving, my feet dance. Playing a game would be great but if it were to be a dice-type of game, the T would have to wrestle the dice out of my hands just to be able to take his turn! I don't know how you can play games or color! You guys amaze me at how differently you cope and how you approach your therapy!
 
I have natural fidgeters...my fingers, my rings, my glasses, my pen, and when push comes to too...
I really need to colour or doodle while having therapy, for some reason nhs therapists would not appreciate that though. Thinking about private therapy in the UK . It is pricy but if it works it is worth the money Right ? Especially if it works. NHS therapy worked too but I can’t get any more had my fair share over the past 3 years. More therapy now needed where do I go from here ?
 
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Thanks so much for this post. I'm glad to know that its normal to do this. I play with my jewlery or scarf in therapy as a distraction. Recently in EMDR, I got to hold a stuffed toy, which was really soothing during some processing. That was an accidental discovery. The reason I had it then was sometimes the T has me toss the toy to her and back as a grounding and relational building exercise. But I kind wish i can have a stuffed toy with me next time I do tough stuff too...
 
My T has a ton of “fidget” things- cubes, putty, spinners, marbles and stones etc. I could never u...
I just had to order the magnetic balls lol. I have a couple figit spinners but I give it a spin and put it down. The guitar is my main thing. I play it whenever I'm doing anything passive. I would even play it watching tv except that has become a together thing with my wife and I and if I do it she leaves the room. I have one upstairs and one down and never in the case both with a capo and a slide. (Actually I have only one slide I misplaced the other one.). While actually in session I don't need any distractions except I stand up sometimes or get off the couch and sit on the floor.
 
I tend to faff around with my scarf and also have a habit of repeatedly taking my jewellery off and putting it back on again. Not sure if that is a distraction though - maybe just more of a manifestation of anxiety!

I was recently struggling with some intrusive thoughts and my T suggested I buy a stress ball to distract myself. I actually bought a fidget cube and quite like it. I had it in my pocket for therapy the other week and quite liked having a play with it there so I might take it with me again. I enjoy the smoother textured sides as I find them soothing.

One time, a therapist and I colored together in a therapy session as we talked.

I got quite into colouring last year and told my T about it. She casually suggested I might want to bring it to sessions. I think she thought it would be a way for me to ground/reduce anxiety. I don’t know why, but I hated the idea. Wondering at this point whether I would quite like it now. I think I’d prefer it if we both did it together, in a way....I think that would feel less silly. But anyway...I already didn’t take her up on the idea, so it’s a bit late now. Can’t imagine me just rocking up with a colouring book and some felt tips now!

She has also suggested I get my phone out and play a game on it before. Again, that was to use it as a grounding tool.

Grounding, soothing, distraction...I guess they are all part of the same idea.
 
I like fidgeting. I wear jewelry designed especially for fidgeting and it's been a huge help for me. I also have like my own fidget cube, etc. In fact, I fidget so much that my therapist gets concerned when I am still because that's usually a bad sign! But having a way to channel that nervous energy is really helpful.
 
I play guitar as well, and so does my husband. But I don’t play when the tv is on. If he does, I go...
They should arrive tomorrow. I was expecting them yesterday but they were back ordered. I will probably play with them 5 minutes and forget them but I needed a present. : )
 
Curious. I don't take anything. Rock up as TOTALLY HIGH FUNCTIONING thank you very much lol. But I massage the scar on my hand when I'm trying to stay present. Sip water. Tea. Sometimes I fiddle with the cloth on the coffee table - it's got intricate beads.
 
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