Thank you everyone for all the things you said about DBT and the well wishes/luck :)
Mark, well done too!
Kat, I hope your back feels better soon.
How's everyone today?
The BPD thread distraction list
The following content has been hidden - Reason : The BPD Distraction List[up to 93!]
1. Watch TV/DVDs/programmes/etc - I love doing this, it helps me to distract myself from everything and just focus on what I'm watching :) I tend to get obsessed ;p
2. Play music really loud & sing/scream - this is really good, too, 'cause screaming the lyrics and just listening and focusing on a song helps tons!
3. Have a cup of tea - can be very soothing, and it's tasty, and warm :)
4. Read a book - it can be very helpful to read books when you're having a hard time, it can be anything, a magazine even too! Just something to focus on and enjoy / be interested in. :)
5. Text/call someone - I do this muchly!
6. Have a bath with favourite bubble bath/scent etc and candle lit.
7. Go for a walk and admire small things that are beautiful but often go unnoticed.
8. If you have a pet, have a cuddle with them or take care of them.
9. Make a collage using pictures from the internet/magazines etc to display how you are feeling.
10. Make a collage/poster on recovery and your goals/aims/dreams etc.
11. Play a game, such as an App on your phone or on the computer. This can help bring your focus away from whatever is going on.
12. Use some non toxic paints and paint pretty patterns on your body/hands.
13. Sing - apparently it's impossible to think and sing at the same time. (Now you'll try that out!)
14. Do a puzzle.
15. Play an instrument or if you can't play an instrument, consider learning to play an instrument.
16. If you like writing, decide on a random title yourself or use a story generator to start off a fictional story.
18. Find your favourite film and snuggle under a duvet with your favourite film.
19. Reach out to someone and offer them some help.
20. Do a Random Act of Kindness for someone, anyone, that happens to be around. Alternatively, 'pass on' an act of kindness that someone has done to you.
21. Bake fairy cakes and ice them (or bake anything!).
22. Get a huge piece of paper/stick loads of bits together and just throw paint at it, Jackson Pollock style.
23. Take photographs of random things in your flat/house/room, or go for a photo walk.
24. Make a glitter jar/cake in a jar/positive affirmations in a jar.
25. Go on YouTube and watch old people's reactions to Dubstep.
26. Make a 'wellbeing toolbox' - get a shoebox or a bag, decorate it and fill it with things you can turn to when you're feeling overwhelmed, like favourite music, letters you've received from people, little toys/bubbles, sweets etc.
27. Do some gardening, or make an indoor pot of flowers to take care of.
28. Jewellery making...you can buy lovely but cheap beads on ebay
29. Puzzle books..word search, crosswords etc
30. Colouring, you can get cheap books with intricate designs which are totally absorbing
31. Cleaning and tidying...not nice to do, but a sense of achievement when done
32. Paint your nails - you won't be able to use your hands to harm yourself with for a little bit.
33. Be daring - work on your anxieties by facing them and book yourself into a course/activity you've always wanted to try. Take a friend or family member if you can and feel it would help. It will help you expand your interests and even maybe your social circle.
34. Do some exercise... buy a skipping rope or a dance DVD and get going. Exercise releases endorphines, the same chemical that is understood to be released when you self harm.
35. Teach yourself Mindfulness.
36. Organize things. I love things being organized, gives me a sense of control/calm, and distracts me! :)
37. Do a makeover on yourself, or explore different hairstyles, or makeup, clothes, etc!
38. Take pictures outside of flowers you see, or anything really on the ground, make it photogenic :)
39. Make lists. Lists of anything at all!
40. Cuddle your fav teddy bear, feel the texture, focus on it, focus on your breathing, try and relax.
41. Do something silly once a day! Scare someone, make something silly like finger painting, make up your own joke, make a mask, a painting, a portrait of something funny, etc.
42. Make bracelets/necklaces for friends :)
43. Decorate easter eggs
44. Scribble on paper
45. Do a clear out on your PC
46. Light candles & enjoy the smells it releases
47. Take silly pictures of yourself!
48. Play any PC games you have lying around
49. Treat yourself to something nice
50. Have a pamper yourself day!
51. Write letters to people
52. Call a friend and ask them if they want to meet for a coffee/shopping/come round to hang out with you/talk to them on the phone
53. Mess about with your hair. Try out different styling with your hair, or go and buy coloring for your hair, never know, could be awesome! :p
54. Go through old pictures of you as a baby/young child, or any home videos, if it won't be triggering
55. Do online quizzes [do not take them to heart if they are mental health quizzes though!]
56. Clean your room/house - some people enjoy it, too!
57. Sort out your fridge/freezer/cans of food etc, throw out out of date things, rearrange everything, gives you something to do!
58. [I'm crap right now right ideas lol] Last one now - feed the birds outside with some bread, and watch as they come - could be kind of relaxing to watching the birds? Or go to a local pond and feed the ducks! :P
59. Exercise, dance randomly, jump up and down, etc
60. Be with other people
61. Posting on web boards, and answering others’ posts
62. Paint your nails
63. Do school/uni/college work
64. Go into chat rooms and talk/observe the conversations(focus on something?)
65. Eating something ridiculously sweet (or any favorite food)
66. Play a musical instrument
67. Shoot rubberbands across the room.
68. Letting yourself cry (can be very difficult for some)
69. [if you have SH urges] - Mix warm water and red food coloring, and put it on your skin (feels and looks like blood)
70. Cover yourself with band-aids where you want to self harm
71. De tangling yarn or necklaces
72. Having a pillowfight with the wall (yes, neighbors may think you are crazy, but that’s ok)
73. Watching a candle burn (no playing with the flames!)
74. Alphabetize your Ipod/mp3/music on your PC/CDs/DVDs etc
75. Ripping paper into itty-bitty pieces
76. Hugs-(this one is very nice…)
77. Hyperfocus on something like a rock, hand, etc.
78. Fingerpaint :)
79. Pop bubble wrap
80. Play with modeling clay or Play-Dough
81. Build a pillow fort, or build a fort with your covers:P
82. Pop balloonsss
83. Reading things in a different language
84. Going for a nice, long drive
85. Make a list of blessings in your life
86. Play with facepaint
87. Memorize a novel or play or song
88. Play the 15 minute game (say you can’t self harm for 15 minutes, and when the time is up, start again)
89. Try to make as many words out of your full name as possible, then do your friends names
How is everyone? Hope you're all okay.
I am quite anxious. Had to pop a Diaz . I have developed a thing where swallowing pills and tablets make me physically wretch , It's a real pain as I'm on so many meds ... , Has anyone else had this? If so how did you get through it?
I'm still not comfortable in my skin and the anasthetic's slowly wearing thin - Otep
Everyones lost but me! - Indiana Jones
It's okay , they know me here .
Kahlia1981 is my adopted little sister :)
''Courage doesn't always roar , sometimes courage is that little voice at the end of the day that says I'll try again tomorrow"
Mark, a few years ago when I was overdosing a lot, I had a problem swallowing pills too, [currently I can swallow 10 pills no problem because I'm so used to them now] I think when I was having problems swallowing them[most likely due to past memories of overdosing and feeling sick and retching and remembering what happened when I overdosed] I just try to imagine swallowing something I like, and taking it with juice or something could help you with the taste too.
Kat, I'm not doing too well, but yeah. You're welcome for the list, I hope it helps, 7 away from 100 if anyone wants to contribute, we could try going for 200 if anyone wants to take part in it again.
Mark - I used to wretch all the time taking pills after overdosing for a long time, I still can't manage capsules. It happened to be yesterday actually. I find for me it's worse if I am feeling low at the time or start thinking about previous overdoses.
I find I need to focus on something else, take the tablets really quickly with a big gulp of whatever I'm drinking.
*Waves to Kat & everybody else*
Ooh, the distraction list has come on really well! Well done to everybody who has contributed =] x
Thanks For you advice Everyone :) It's only recently started , a few weeks ago I could take a handful of my meds no problem.
The Diaz helped with my Anxiety though :)
I'm about if anyone wants to talk :)
I'm still not comfortable in my skin and the anasthetic's slowly wearing thin - Otep
Everyones lost but me! - Indiana Jones
It's okay , they know me here .
Kahlia1981 is my adopted little sister :)
''Courage doesn't always roar , sometimes courage is that little voice at the end of the day that says I'll try again tomorrow"
Sometimes i found it easier to stick the tablet in something, like ice cream or a chocolate moose and swallow it, that way you dont feel or tatse the tablet.
"Its not how long a star shines, what is remembered is the brightness of the light"
mark pretty much the same story as everyone else, after some ODs as a teenager i found the idea of taking a certain otc painkilller so hard it made me retch but i guess time passed.
i'm also not sure if i answered your question about mr mousey, its just what i call the field mice that live in my garden i sit and watch them eating the bird seed.
got mums wolf dog keeping me company today coz she has workmen in the house and shes at work
Hey Mari :) *Hugs* Putting it in food is a good idea :)
Hey Ferret *Huggles*
My Parents feed their Birds but yesterday a Siskin ( I Think ) Got it's head stuck in the feeder it took My Dad , Brother in law and Myself to free it , I hope it's okay. I would love a small garden where I could feed the birds myself.
Last edited by Doikers : 24-04-2012 at 01:58 PM.
Reason: oops
I'm still not comfortable in my skin and the anasthetic's slowly wearing thin - Otep
Everyones lost but me! - Indiana Jones
It's okay , they know me here .
Kahlia1981 is my adopted little sister :)
''Courage doesn't always roar , sometimes courage is that little voice at the end of the day that says I'll try again tomorrow"
hey, so ive been kindda lurking on here for awhile wanting to say hi but not having the courage to do so, but here goes Hi all! lol also i just wanted to say that your distractions list is really cool n filled with loads of useful ideas ive been baking with my kid sister quite a bit lately which she finds really fun (shes only 9) and has def kept me quite distracted :)
Hey lovely =] Welcome to the thread. I'm glad you have felt able to post tonight/today depending where you are! It's great you have found the distraction list helpful and that the baking has been a success for you and your little sister.
x
