Self Care/Self Soothing Techniques

[Nicky31]

Anni. It was omitted from the history books, but yeah you're right it is why we had an empire, but ultimately why we list it too... It needs refrigeration and doesn't do well in hot countries. Get ye some trifle now!!! :rofl:

 

[lyrical]

You guys don't have trifle? *gobsmacked*

seriously?!

 

[tryintobreathe]

What's a trifle???

Jen

 

[Sasha]

Thanks Pixie, great idea.

I've found music/ipod has been really helpful. I can drowned out things that are bothering me and mellow myself out to my favorite songs.

Sometimes, when my concentration is good, a good movie is a nice 'get away' too.

Snuggling with my pups is always nice - I have the sweetest dogs : )

Waga - I had the same experience about 6 months ago when I went to buy something. The lady there went on and on and made me feel horrible. I think you are right - they work on our vulnerabilities and it's not right. But, I do hope that you have a little fun when you use your new stuff and it makes you feel good.

 

[anni]

You can't explain trifle, you just have to experience it. :) It has more calories per square inch than pure bacon lard but as a comfort food, hence a PTSD trigger-stopper, it would have to be up there with bio-feedback.

'Gobsmacked'- hahaha! I haven't heard that in years, either! The descriptive terms across the pond are awesome!When I moved back over here it was like being bi-lingual for awhile because noone knew what I was talking about.

I think one can list laughter and general silliness with the others in the self-soothing thread.

Hope you're feeling better and stronger, Waga. You've had some lovely feedback here!

Take care,

Anni

 

[Pixie]

Thank you to everyone who responded! It is great to hear some ideas coming through that we can all try at some stage. :thumbs-up

What I'm particularly hearing is the food thing (esp. the trifle... lol). So let me ask this question...

What is your "comfort food" and why?

For me, it is jelly (well lately it has been)... and it seems to quickly disappear from the fridge! As I am a hopeless cook... for me it is so simple to make which heads off my usual kitchen cooking disasters! It takes less than 5 minutes to make (but a while to set). It is relatively low calorie, especially if you get the "light" versions, AND it tastes sweet! :clap:

Rell

 

[ams]

Self care:

1- Bubble baths. I like to soak until I'm tired enough to sleep. I go all out with candles, bubbles, chocolate, and sometimes music.
2- Starbucks. I treat myself to it often now because it makes me feel good. It makes me feel important to myself. If I'm gonna be spending $7/drink on someone, they better be important. lol
3- Makeup. When I do my makeup I feel really really pretty, and it gives me some confidence.
4- Playing the guitar. It's so therapeutic to me and when I've got a nice rhythm going, I just close my eyes and relax.

Self soothing:

1- Filing my nails. I'll get a buffer/filer with four sides on it. Like, it's 4 different steps. The last one being "shine nail", then I wash my hands and paint my nails.
2- Peeling stuff. Usually tangerines. I buy 5lb bags of them and whenever I eat one (or 5, lol) I notice peeling them is a bit soothing.
3- Guitar, again. I can zone out a bit when I play and it relaxes me a lot.
4- Drawing. My drawings are all these eccentric patterns. When I can get myself started, sometimes I don't stop until hours later.

I've noticed the repetition is what's soothing for me. When I'm thinking about something overwhelming, I tend to grind my feet into the floor, or tap something, or pick at my nails, anything repetitive like that. And when I notice I'm doing it, I usually try to stop and get back focused on NOW.

 

[Sasha]

MMMM Comfort food, let's see - Mexican food always, always hits the spot. The broccoli and cheese soup at Panera bread is so.. good, I love their grilled sandwiches too. Lentil soup, chocolate ice cream, Biscuits and gravy. Tonight I had a craving for cream cheese & bagels with smoked samon (odd I know, but I got it anyway). Oh, I love my coffee -but, I'll only drink it in the morning now since it inteferes with my sleep if I drink it in the afternoon or evening. Now I'm hungry, going to get my bagel : )

 

[anni]

The repetitive thing is really familiar. I'd be interested to know if that seems to help, as in is it something that unconsciously is done to self-sooth, or is it a nervous sort of outlet? If you have the time or energy, I'd be interested in hearing what anyone feels ( or knows ) about these types of behaviours.

The best comfort food I've known, and always turn to is oatmeal with butter, cream, raisins and brown sugar. It could be because that's what my mother made on those snowed-in days when we were children and the comfort and soothing comes from a memory.

Thanks much,

Anni

 

[Gloria]

I am new to the Forum but I searched for and found your thread on soothing. Although I feel so incredibly lucky to have found this site, I have to admit that it has triggered me and overwhelmed me in the past few days. But by reading your solutions, it gives me coping skills. I use most of the things that were mentioned. I have been a very thin person all my life and only recently did I discover food comforts me! Oh no! Now my jeans are tight but food does really help!

I use monotonous activities like playing Solotaire on the computer. I have a dislocated shoulder and I will play until my shoulder hurts so much that I can't go on. I play for hours and then instead of having nightmare, I see cards in my sleep. Well, it's better than nightmares!

 

[Tiger Kitten]

Gloria, I play Solitaire on the computer as well. I have been known to play solitaire in my head when I am falling asleep. I thought it was just me.

I have also found a few games on gamehouse that are really soothing as well. One is called Quilts or something like that and you put pieces of different colors in a pattern and it is really really calming. No time limits or anything and no frustration at all. There are actually a few games on there under puzzles that are really soothing and not too difficult on the arm. (my mouse arm/wrist is all messed up.)

I like candles. I can sit and watch the flame for hours just letting the flicker of it soothe me.
I enjoy reading a good book.
I get lost in video games sometimes. I play a lot of World of Warcraft. It's really soothing for me, and I have a place by a waterfall that I can sit and just relax, and if anything bothers me I can just kill it. If anyone bothers me or annoys me I can hit the ignore button. Sometimes, I wish life was like that.

 

[anthony]

Opened.