Self-soothing & comforting suggestions

This is a place to discuss grounding techniques and self-care strategies.

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Xanthia
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Posts: 3094
Joined: Wed Oct 29, 2014 1:20 am

Re: Self-soothing & comforting suggestions

Post by Xanthia »

Thanks for sharing Shine. Sounds a wonderful resource you've found.
Xanthia
Shirley
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Joined: Sat Feb 24, 2018 6:52 pm

Re: Self-soothing & comforting suggestions

Post by Shirley »

Hi turtle,
I too have a soft bear. It’s always in the bed with me. I also have a real dog Missy who comes to me and knows when I need a cuddle and curls up with me and can be a good distraction sometimes.
That could also be of some help to you.
Shirley
Last edited by Serenity on Tue Feb 27, 2018 10:30 am, edited 1 time in total.
Reason: Changed MT to NT
There is always a silver lining.
freedomspot
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Posts: 490
Joined: Wed Aug 02, 2017 4:15 am

Re: Self-soothing & comforting suggestions

Post by freedomspot »

Hi turtle,

Me too, I have a teddy bear (and I felt so silly I had one, until I discovered how many of us have one too..)
Drinking coffee and looking out of the window
Sleeping (a lot.. till I wake up having forgotten much of what hurts)
Speaking on the phone with good friends
Drawing pictures
Watching comic series.

Take care and keep going.
P.S. I really loved this post, because it gives a great many solutions !
Shine
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Posts: 448
Joined: Thu Feb 20, 2014 2:17 pm

Re: Self-soothing & comforting suggestions

Post by Shine »

Blowing bubbles. Helps to regulate my breathing and I love the sound as they pop.
Couragetoday
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Posts: 5939
Joined: Sun Dec 28, 2014 11:31 pm

Re: Self-soothing & comforting suggestions

Post by Couragetoday »

Soft glow from a beeswax candle
Hugging dog
Wrapping self in soft blanket

CT
solana
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Posts: 477
Joined: Sat Sep 15, 2018 2:25 am

Re: Self-soothing & comforting suggestions

Post by solana »

so many great ideas here :)

i like to:

listen to music - not just in the background, but put headphones on and really listen to every note and every lyric. it's amazing how different it sounds to me when i pay attention to just the music and nothing else.

cuddle my animals, play with them, teach them things. their capacity to learn and comprehend is incredible. they seem to always know what i need and when, even before i do.

prepare and eat comforting foods.

take and look at artistic photographs.

build a snowman, play in the snow. sit outside in the winter and enjoy the beauty of nature.

crochet.

play a video game.

watch cartoons.

do nothing. allow myself time to relax.

visualize a safe place in my mind.
You are stronger than you know.
ephes

Re: Self-soothing & comforting suggestions

Post by ephes »

So many wonderful ideas!

I'd like to add weighted blankets.

They're blankets with weights sown evenly into them, simulating a gentle, firm hug.
The principle behind it is Deep Pressure Stimulation or Deep Touch Pressure which calms the nervous system and releases serotonin. They are used for autistic children but there's also research that confirms beneficial effects for adults with anxiety, PTSD and other, also just generally helps to relax or sleep.
EasyStreet
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Joined: Fri Mar 22, 2019 7:36 pm

Re: Self-soothing & comforting suggestions

Post by EasyStreet »

This thread just inspired me to walk my little doggie in the sunshine!
EasyStreet
Thanks for being

(On this forum, in my tribe, chatting or not, prosper and thrive!)
ephes

Re: Self-soothing & comforting suggestions

Post by ephes »

So I discovered drinking good tea out of small cans and cups, Alice in Wonderland like, as a mindfulness and grounding exercise. They're tea tasting cans apparently and the tea leaves can be steeped 3 - 5 times from 30 seconds to a bit longer for the subsequent times. The taste and color changes each time you steep it. The little can has to be poured quickly but delicately not to drip. The little cups want to be held delicately.

It engages sight (admiring form of can, color of tea, leaves unfolding), smell/taste, touch (pouring just right and holding the rapidly cooling cups), hearing (the high pitched ping when the lid closes on the can, tea pouring).

It's not like I'm doing a tea ceremony as it's supposed to be done. But the little can is a thing of beauty and the short steeping time, little cups, frequent refilling and delicateness of it all make it real hard to do it absentmindedly (as opposed to my coffees which I drown like shots), forcing me to BE in the moment. It helps push away intrusive thoughts and anxiety sometimes.
Couragetoday
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Joined: Sun Dec 28, 2014 11:31 pm

Re: Self-soothing & comforting suggestions

Post by Couragetoday »

Thanks for sharing this ephes.
What a great way to enhance the whole exercise of using tea mindfully and to help with grounding.
You have me brainstorming different and new ways to approach it.
Very glad it’s proving helpful for you.

Couragetoday
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