My Self-Soothing Kit

In my in-town BPD Group, we have each made a Self-Soothing Kit.  They contain at least one item for each of the five senses.  Whenever you’re feeling distressed, you pull an item out of your self-soothing kit and use it to self-soothe until the distress has passed.  It helps you get through urges to do something like self-harm until the emotion has passed like a wave.

Here is a picture of my self-soothing kit:

In it, I have included:  an MP3 player full of relaxation podcasts, a keychain photo of my grandson, a small decorative soap, some lotion, a couple of tiny teddy bears, and some mints.

Here is a picture of my friend’s self-soothing kit:

In her self-soothing kit, she has included a joke book, a bum-shaped stress ball (for colon cancer awareness), a talking stuffed cat keychain, a radio, and a peach candy.

You can use a small box or bag or whatever you wish as your Self-Soothing Kit, and decorate it however you want.  We have both used cosmetic bags for ours.  Why don’t you try making a Self-Soothing Kit of your own today?  Feel free to share in the comments what you put in yours.

Till next time,

— Joyce.

DBT Distress Tolerance: Self Soothing with 5 senses | Marci, Mental Health, & More

Photo post.

Source: DBT Distress Tolerance: Self Soothing with 5 senses | Marci, Mental Health, & More

Trying to Soothe Myself

I haven’t slept well for the last few days.  Even if I do get some sleep, I feel as though I haven’t slept a wink all night, which is nothing new.  But it’s even worse than usual.  I usually try to eat somewhat healthily.  But right now, I’m allowing myself a little bit of self-soothing through junk food.  I’m not worrying about not sleeping.  I’m just blasting music on my headphones and playing games on the computer.

I’ve been looking for pictures of my brother.  I hardly have any.  I have about 11.  Not much to show for his whole life.  I can feel sadness lurking inside me, just waiting to come out.  So far it hasn’t.  I know it will eventually.  I feel a lot of guilt.  I wish I could’ve done something for him.

Thanks for sticking by me on this journey.  Not sure where it’s gonna take me but I appreciate the company so much!  Till next time,

– Joyce.

DBT Self-Soothing Ideas for Men – Roanne Program

DBT Self-Soothing Ideas for Men – Roanne Program.

Using My DBT Skills At Home – Sunrise Residential Treatment Center

Using My DBT Skills At Home – Sunrise Residential Treatment Center.

HealingFromBPD.org – Borderline Personality Disorder Blog: Emotional First Aid Kit – Self-Soothing (DBT)

HealingFromBPD.org – Borderline Personality Disorder Blog: Emotional First Aid Kit – Self-Soothing (DBT).

Tracing the rainbow through the Rain: Helpful Self Soothe Gifs

Tracing the rainbow through the Rain: Helpful Self Soothe Gifs.

Tracing the rainbow through the Rain: Helpful Self Soothe Gifs

Tracing the rainbow through the Rain: Helpful Self Soothe Gifs.

Self-Soothing: Calming the Amygdala | The Emotionally Sensitive Person#at_pco=tst-1.0&at_si=54cd89c43a3b1ed9&at_ab=per-2&at_pos=1&at_tot=2#at_pco=tst-1.0&at_si=54cd89c43a3b1ed9&at_ab=per-2&at_pos=1&at_tot=2

Self-Soothing: Calming the Amygdala | The Emotionally Sensitive Person#at_pco=tst-1.0&at_si=54cd89c43a3b1ed9&at_ab=per-2&at_pos=1&at_tot=2#at_pco=tst-1.0&at_si=54cd89c43a3b1ed9&at_ab=per-2&at_pos=1&at_tot=2.

Hope Is Real!: Coreys Travel Tip-Pack a Self-Soothing Kit

Hope Is Real!: Coreys Travel Tip-Pack a Self-Soothing Kit.

Tracing the rainbow through the Rain: My Christmas Self Soothe Habits

Tracing the rainbow through the Rain: My Christmas Self Soothe Habits.

Self-Soothing with Scrambled Eggs

Image courtesy of rakratchada torsap / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

 

How are scrambled eggs self-soothing, you might ask?  Well, let me tell you:

I usually make them for my daughter but, for myself, I’m usually to tired in the mornings to make them for myself.  So I usually just make myself a piece of toast or a bowl of cereal, which requires much less effort to make.  I thought to myself this morning, “I deserve scrambled eggs too, for a change!”  So I made some.  And they were delicious.  It may not seem like a huge thing but, for me, it’s a big thing.  I need to do much more of these little things for me.  I’d like to try to do a few little things like this every day.  I’d love to be able to work my way up to someday doing bigger things for me.

I don’t have the energy to take care of myself the way I should, the way I’d like to.  Maybe I can do a little better with that each day too.  I feel horrible and disgusting every day because of it.

Wish me luck in doing a few small things for myself every day.  And, hopefully someday, even bigger things.  Thank you so much,

– Joyce.

Self-Soothing (DBT)

Self-Soothing: Calming the Amygdala | The Emotionally Sensitive Person

Self-Soothing: Calming the Amygdala | The Emotionally Sensitive Person.