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Lapis_AnteaterPeer Guide
It can be hard to remember coping skills when we are distressed. I thought it would be nice to have a compilation of all the coping strategies that work for us or that we think might work for others (especially any unusual ones!).
In response to: Coping Skills
JynxModerator
Love this @Lapis_Anteater!!
For me, always starts with the breath. So long as my exhale is longer than my inhale, my heart rate will start to slow.
Then, it depends on the emotion - fighty/flighty ones like anger or anxiety, I respond to with movement to try to express/release the energy. Freezey/fawny ones like shut down or dissociation, I turn to grounding to try to reconnect.
Fighty/flighty
Freezey/fawny
Keen to see if there's others I can add to my list!! 👀
In response to: Coping Skills
ChasingsunsetsSenior Contributor
I love this thread @Lapis_Anteater, awesome list too as well as @Jynx thanks for those ideas 🙏
I’d have to say my most effective top strategy for very strong intense distress feelings for me has to be
For less intense emotions
I know my list is a bit small so would love to hear from everyone else and what you might find effective 🙏
In response to: Coping Skills
Judi9877Senior Contributor
Hi @Lapis_Anteater @Chasingsunsets @Jynx and others. What a great discussion thread. I’m very impressed with the ideas and have gained some new ideas to help me with my own recovery to add to my coping skills toolbox.
When I’m distressed, I find the following things can be helpful:
- Music via my iPhone and Apple Music with playlists for certain moods
- Knitting in the form of beanies
- Curling up under a soft blanket on my bed
- Using essential oils like lavender or spraying eucalyptus to distract myself
- Watching a tv show via a streaming service on my phone such as my current favourites Gossip Girl and Hannah Montana - I missed watching them when I was at uni 20 years ago so I’m now catching up!
- Watching sport like AFL, tennis, NRL, cricket, horse racing, swimming, athletics on tv
- Writing things down and getting things out of my head
- Drawing using pencils, textas and crayons
- Doing a diamond art painting kit
- Reading magazines or ebooks via my library apps such as Libby
- Looking at Facebook
- Having a warm shower
- Having a cup of tea to calm down
- Crocheting granny squares
- Cross stitch a bookmark or a freehand design
- Looking at motivation quotes from photos on my phone
- Watching videos of waves I took on my recent cruise this year when the ship was in rough waters from my balcony cabin as well as the video showing me getting saturated at the cruise ship pool thanks to the rough weather.
- Listening to meditation music in my phone
- Deep breathing exercises
- Reminding myself that I’m tough and strong and that I can handle this situation even if I don’t think I can at the present time
- Reminding myself that this situation is like a wave at the beach where it will get rough but it will eventually peak and soon die down and eventually end.
- Talking to my housemate or friend about what’s going on
- Coming on the forums and getting involved in what’s going on in forumland.
I look forward to reading what others do and suggest.
Judi9877
In response to: Re: Coping Skills
JynxModerator
omg love it @Judi9877 especially this bit
@Judi9877 wrote:- Reminding myself that I’m tough and strong and that I can handle this situation even if I don’t think I can at the present time
- Reminding myself that this situation is like a wave at the beach where it will get rough but it will eventually peak and soon die down and eventually end.
Being firm in your sense of self-empowerment whilst also knowing when it's just about letting the waves wash over you - thank you for sharing!! 😍
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Help us push aside the stigma and discrimination surrounding complex mental health and change the way people talk about, and care for, mental illness.
SANE acknowledges the Traditional Owners of Country throughout Australia and recognises the continuing connection to lands, waters and communities. We pay our respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures; and to Elders past and present.
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