Our coping toolbox 🧰

[Adge]

Thanks @Shaz51 I think I need a whole new Toolbox.

I don't have one at the moment...

Adge

[Oaktree]

Hi @Shaz51 

I need some self care tools at the moment. Is there anything you would recommend? I got on Beyond Blue webchat yesterday 

[Jynx]

@Oaktree @Adge @Shaz51 happy to brainstorm some coping tools with y'all if you like!! 

@Oaktree got a vague idea on what you're needing atm? Here with ya lovely 😊💜

[Oaktree]

Oh @Jynx 

I don’t really know what I need.

Maybe some distraction techniques?

I had something a bit distressing happen yesterday and now I am a bit in knots. @rav3n is recommending Sane chat service but I hate talking on the phone so I don’t really know. I need to do some homework for tafe but I am putting that off because my mind is busy with this other stuff 

[Jynx]

@Oaktree mm gotcha, so a fresh dollop of stressful info has landed on you, that's rough hun 😞

Can be tricky to find the right distraction hey, like sometimes I get stuck in a spot where my brain is too overwhelmed to properly engage with something that would dominate my attention (like say, a video game) but like, just watching tv isn't quite distracting enough...

Just gave me this idea of like... a helpline where you call literally just to hear someone else talk about stuff they find interesting! So it's a way to connect and be distracted but without needing to go pulling out all the stressy thoughts.

Sometimes if I can't focus on the distraction, I try to get myself out of head and into body - movement, dance, stretching, body-scan, stuff like that. I think taking some of the energy that would be going into ruminating and putting it into physicality helps... even if it just ends up that I'm so tired from it I no longer have energy to think about the stressy stuff!

How are you feeling in your body anyway?

[Oaktree]

@Jynx 

I love the idea of a distraction helpline where the other person does all the talking. I feel anxiety in my stomach right now. 

[rav3n]

@Oaktree just thought i'd share some things that helped me when i was trying to study, i know it's not for everyone - some prefer absolute silence when studying, but for me, the silence just gave my brain more time to overthink and worry.

so i'd put on a Youtube video/movie/song - something that i really love or find comforting, and then transition into starting my work with that playing in the background. and i break the homework/task into very small steps and take a quick break after each one. for example my list might be: find 2 relevant articles, write a title, finish the intro paragraph, fix the font, etc. and if i'm getting distracted by my thoughts again, i'll go back to watching the comfort movie for a bit longer until i'm a bit more relaxed, and then try the work again. 

but like @Jynx mentioned, sometimes those movies/songs, etc., might not be distracting enough so trying those other things like focusing on movement sounds like a great idea too. 

also have you heard of FriendLine? i believe their chat services are currently closed and they're only offering calls at the moment, but i feel like could be open to doing a distraction chat like that. 

[Jynx]

Haha I'll totally pass on the idea @Oaktree who knows, might manifest something!!

Time for my fav MH 'broken record'! 😅 

Don't forget the power of your breath!

Even 60s of measured breathing will slow our heart rate, and it begins signalling our bodies that we're safe. My go-to breath technique is 4-6-7 (in for 4 counts [counts, not seconds, haha], hold for 6 counts and much slower exhale for 7 counts) because I learned that whenever we inhale our heart rate increases slightly, and when we exhale it decreases slightly. So making the exhale longer than inhale really helps! 

Also helps to gently remind ourselves what is and isn't within our realm of control, and try not to put all our energy towards that which we currently cannot change. Easier said than done of course 😅

[Oaktree]

@Jynx 

Thanks for reminding me to breathe, could help with the anxiety. I do have medication here for it but if I take that I will have to cancel my next appointment at the bloodbank. They want me to have taken it for a couple of weeks to make sure no side effects

[Oaktree]

@Jynx 

I did end up taking the medication and cancelling my next appointment. Hopefully that kicks in soon.