Guest guest Posted August 9, 2010 Report Share Posted August 9, 2010 that is such an amazing tool to bring a person back into the present!I love it. Thanks so much for sharing it. > > > 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. > > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 10, 2010 Report Share Posted August 10, 2010 Nifty, I like it ! Thanks for sharing about it. Under stress I can definitely feel myself starting to float up a bit, so this could be very helpful. > > > > > > 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. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 10, 2010 Report Share Posted August 10, 2010 Pretty cool idea. What are grounding beads? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 10, 2010 Report Share Posted August 10, 2010 That's wonderful. Thank you so much for passing that on!! How can you argue with healing through sock monkeys? I personally think that is phenomenal. Others may laugh, but I totally get it! Blessings, Karla > > > 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. > > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 10, 2010 Report Share Posted August 10, 2010 ha ha! my check is in the mail! wow, this is so helpful. thank you! it's funny b/c there are certain things i think of to soothe me and certain scents that make me so happy (ralph lauren...me too! blue!). but i do love this idea. it's your box and your space. it's lovely. > > > 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. > > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You are posting as a guest. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.