I'm a bit resistant in hand writing things and so I'm going to put this on here instead of writing it out in detail on the workbook paperwork from J* (therapist).
I think it could/will be particularly helpful since I am often not far from my phone. Since I have access to my blog posts via my phone...this simple reminder is much easier/better than the hand written notes J* has given me. I will still write them out on the workbook papers. Only this will be a bit more detailed.
Creating and Getting to My/Your Safe Space. It means exactly what it reads. Creating a safe space. And how do you/I plan on getting there.
Last week I wrote out on the workbook paperwork in brief detail 'what my safe space would be'. I don't think I fully comprehended the extent that J* wanted me to go into detail and why I needed to do so. As the week has progressed, as I had a particular upsetting outburst over the weekend that left me ridden with guilt and trying to not be triggered in the failure mode, as I encountered some difficult feeling/memories/triggers during massage on Monday....as these things and a few other things have been put on my plate the last week....I've been able to see a little bit clearer why/what exactly J* was talking about. Some of it is pretty private, some of this I can write...but don't know I can accurately talk about unless it is brought up.
Creating a safe space isn't just about finding a place w/in your home, work, environment that you can go. It is about finding that safe space w/in yourself. As I read the homework assignment this week and it talked about 'getting to my safe space....whenever I am in distress or feel the need to do so' it made me think more about expanding this area. It isn't just the place w/in my home that I feel is "my safe space..." but something that I can access when I'm not home. I often carry w/me in my car (actually ALWAYS in my car) are 2 things from my Orlando 2011 ETAAM trip. I have my damnit doll and 'you are not alone' rock. These 2 items in the past I've found myself rubbing. Often, when I'm working doing my normal job the rock is in my pocket. Being able to rub it, feel the smoothness, the edge where the printed paper was put on it...and meaning behind it...will make the difference. I've got a few of these rocks and I will in the very near future be getting them out.
One space that works for me is a hot shower/bath. I've struggled in the past with this being a borderline self injury tool.
Two days in a row this week I was able to get myself to that space and have it remain helpful. Getting to this 'safe space' was not hard on Sunday. I was able to put my computer down, lock my bedroom door and lock the bathroom (I Know...I know...locking myself behind 2 doors isn't the brightest idea) and get into the shower where I was able to decompress for whatever length of time.
Getting myself there the 2nd day was not as easy. Life got in the way. This is where finding something "outside" of my home is important. Having some sort of object to concentrate on would be helpful. By the time I got home on Monday evening and was able to shower it was late. It was quite a few hours later. And I had worked myself up in a tizzy. My head hurt. My jaw hurt. My shoulder hurt. My entire body hurt.
I had spent several hours attempting to push back the swirling thoughts/memories. Hell, I sat in my Psychiatrists office....did I mention it to her. Hell to the No!! If I had an appt w/J*...it might have been a good thing. My pdoc and I have a love/hate relationship and I wasn't loving her that much on Monday. Shit, I wasn't loving myself. So loving/liking someone else was not in the works.
((((I KNOW I"M RAMBLING......But this is FOR ME)))))
Creating and getting to safe space are 2 very different things. Yet, as I think about it...I find it very much the same. If I have the item/space available to me....choosing to use them is much easier.
H* (massage therapist) often uses different oils. I am not real good about remembering which oils/scents she uses. One of these days I will remember to ask her (or email her before an appt to ask her to remind me) which one it is that seems to be the most helpful. Valor is one scent that she uses often.
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