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outlanderSenior Contributor
In response to: Keeping safe
Unknown userMember
I'm not sure where you got to with HC with creatinga new safety plan @outlander but that is a possibility if needed. Graet hearing what's worked or hasn't worked for others. Trying to find what speaks to you is what we need to try and uncover 🙂
In response to: Keeping safe
utopiaSenior Contributor
In response to: Re: Keeping safe
Unknown userMember
These survival boxes people have made sound amazing. Almost like one of those time capsules you hear about, and find fascinating what people choose to put in there!
I've been wondering about changing up my own "self-care" strategies too @outlander. I'm one of those annoying people who find "mindfulness" apps and colouring books works. If I need some real time out or something to really take my attention away I'd double-up on maybe colouring, or sudoku, and listening to music or a podcast. Really drown out that brain of mine!
In response to: Keeping safe
CheerBearSenior Contributor
In response to: Re: Keeping safe
outlanderSenior Contributor
Thank you everyone for responding and my apologies for not answering sooner, I havent been in a good state which resulted in an ED admisison.
@utopia thank you for your suggestions. I think we are our own worst enemies sometimes. We can give advice but sometimes cant do it for ourselves. I hope thing are easing for you and that some more coping strategies will come into play for you 
I have a coping box too with a little bit descibed below to Chris. Your dressing gown sounds so nice and warm and soft. What a great comfort item!
@Christhank you for your suggestions and also its nice to meet you , and I do hope things become easier for you too I have heard of those and have something similar. I call it a coping box and have a range of things like a few art things, a few dvds, my ring and bracelet if I ever take them off which is rare, and my worry box (with thanks to @sans911 ) for the idea and giving me a hand with that. As well as as a notebook- not my journal I have that really hidden.
@Phoenix_Risingthank you actually for raising this part of the topic and also im sorry things are hard for you too . I tend to question it myself to a certain extent as im constantly keeping myself safe and surviving. The things that are on my 'safet plan' are basically my self care acitivites that I just try to incorporate into my day, the warning signs are basically my way of living as well so I find it quite tricky to be able to do in that sense. I tend not to ask others to help keep me safe either, like you have been turned away or hung up on many many times and ive lost a lot of faith in our mental health system all together which in turn makes it even harder to reach out for that extra support. I guess more what im after Is other ideas on how to cope or more so learn to 'float' when the waves become too big to manage and have a hard time keeping the suicidal thoughts at bay- I hate going to hospital, this time it saved me but I dont like to go there. I have to go back through your DBT thread from the start and start taking some notes I think.
@Queenie thank you for your suggestions
yes I tend to constantly play music as well. I dont think I really ever have my music off unless im watching a tv show. I agree with you that it captures well really everything. I find it expressed what we think and feel even when we cant think of how to say it ourselves. I do love the repeat button for sure!
@Former-Member I havent really gotten that far, the last we spoke it was more about keeping safe in the moment, reminding myself of what has been working for the time being then come back to it when im in a better state. Thank you
@Former-Member the coping boxes do work quite well, maybe you could invest in one yourself?
I find having doing the same 'safe' strategies it tends to get repetitive and less effective over time so I really need to find what works for me but im not sure what that is. I like to problem solve sort of things and learn so thats where my studies (when I was studying) helped but it was also draining and lack of motivation was affecting me as well. Ive found puzzles like findawords and actual puzzles (the ones you stick together) are helping sometimes too. Put on abit of music and im set for quite abit. And thank you
@CheerBear thank you for your suggestions
I agree with you, I find after a while of doing the exact same thing it becomes less effective and less enjoyable too. Thank you for the suggestion to change it up abit, more recently ive brought back my calligraphy but it gets hard with an unsteady hand so tend to only be able to do one or two at time but it does occupy me as well. I also took to using watercolour textas (like normal pains but held like a texta) and playing with the colours to form patterns and blending as well.
Ive found on youtube- it use to be on tv- to 'how things are made' like the other day it showed me how lollipops are made, the icecream sandwhiches and a few other things but those are just examples. I think the most interesting one was actually the coke one. It was amazing to watch how the machines worked and at the speed they performed at as well.
In response to: Keeping safe
utopiaSenior Contributor
In response to: Re: Keeping safe
outlanderSenior Contributor
how do you (and everyone can answer) know the difference in what your generally feeling compared to when the depression sinks in. this time it was obvious but by then it was too late and i just gave up.
but if my safety plan features (the part where it has identify the changes) has beasically what i feel everyday how do you notice the suttle changes? @utopia
and so like bring about old things make them new again? fro you it was soduku, but im not sure about me. i think atm its the puzzles. i havent done them in a long time and now ive been doing them quite alot
In response to: Keeping safe
utopiaSenior Contributor
In response to: Re: Keeping safe
outlanderSenior Contributor
so theres usually a pattern of when things start to turn? @utopia
i think for me- this time it was obvious as i literally just stopped all contact with everyone, went into hiding from online and offline. and basically just gave up.
i knew i was in trouble before that but i dont like hospitals and when i get bad i feel the pressures even more of going there when in reality hospital makes me stress more as i know what its doing on the outside as well.
i didnt sleep for nearly 2 weeks straight before i was forced into sleeping. other than that im not really sure of any other changes.
how do you document your changes?
In response to: Keeping safe
utopiaSenior Contributor
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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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