A Survival Box

[Guest guest]

Someone asked what a survival box was and I wanted to share it with everyone if

you're interested. My therapist said that when we were little, being raised by a

borderline parent made us hypervigalent because the rules were always changing.

Our brains had to figure out a way to cope so a lot of times we would dissociate

ourselves from the situation. When you dissociate yourself, you kind of leave

your body (so to speak) and you become unaware of your 5 senses...and it worked

then (dissociating), but now it doesn't work anymore. So the survival box is

something I use when I am dissociative or having really high anxiety.

Go to your local Target (or Wal-Mart, 's, Hobby Lobby, etc) and purchase

a box.

You can pretty much use your imagination. I have a medium-sized white basket

lined in pink fabric, but you could use a treasure chest or whatever you want.

Get as many items as it will hold that have to do with your 5 senses...things

YOU like and are special to YOU and no one else.

Touch

Taste

Smell

Hearing

Sight

For touch, I have a sock monkey (dont laugh), a squishy stress ball, some

grounding beads (if you don't know what grounding beads are, I'd be happy to do

another post explaining how to make them), some little ceremic bears my

therapist gave me.

For taste, I have mints, chocolates, some herbal teas, and sprees. I love

sprees, lol.

For smell, I have some Ralph perfume that I love, some scented candles

(which can also be for sight), and different sized lotions from Bath and Body

Works.

For hearing, I have some CDs that I like to put on.

For sight, I have pictures of my kids, my husband, my therapist, a cross, my

positive affirmation book, etc...

The point is to use it right before or during high anxiety or dissociative

times. Maybe it could work for you too!!

As you're doing it, be aware of what you're feeling, thinking, seeing. Ask

yourself, what am I touching? (my grounding beads) Where is it touching me? (my

fingers) How does it feel? (rough, cool, smooth).

Okay, now you all owe me $140!!

LOL Just kidding.