Posted by fallsfall on April 30, 2004, at 13:07:26
In reply to SI update ***may trigger, posted by crushedout on April 29, 2004, at 22:43:54
When I'm having a hard time I can't go for a walk with my dogs because it gives me too much time to think. I have found that I can listen to a book on tape while I walk, and that is enough distraction.
I watch movies. I rent movies every week so I'll always have something to watch. I try hard to rent movies I haven't seen because they hold my attention better than ones that I have seen. And nothing too violent or scary or distressing - but it does have to have some plot to hold my attention. Movies are 1 1/2 to 2 hours which is usually long enough to get me into a different frame of mind. I rent the older movies and have a rent 1/get one free card, so I get 2 movies for 1.99, once or twice a week.
Ice cream is always good.
Guitar has also worked well for me.
Coloring can help. I use colored pencils in a geometric coloring book (or make my own geometric design) when I'm feeling like life is out of control - a very orderly task. Sometimes I like to color in a huge coloring book (Teddy Bears) that my daughter gave me with crayons (I have my own) - they smell great.
Sometimes I take a nap (but only if I can go to sleep quickly without thinking too much).
Sometimes I come online and plead for Babblers to meet me in Open and talk sense into me.
Stopping cutting is like staying on a diet in that if you mess up you shouldn't give up because you can always start again.
Good luck.
poster:fallsfall
thread:341578
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/psycho/20040426/msgs/341830.html