Surviving the Emergency Stage. pg. 75

(slightly amended by me from The Courage to Heal third ed. ISBN 0-06-095066-8 )

♥ Don't hurt or try to kill yourself. You deserve to live. If you start feeling suicidal or self-destructive, reach out.
♥ Know that you're not going crazy. What you're going through is a recognized part of the healing process.
♥ Find people you can talk to. Don't try to bear it alone.
♥ Get skilled professional support.
♥ Get support from other survivors. It's unlikely that anyone other than another survivor can listen as much as you'll need to talk.
♥ Allow yourself to obsess. Don't make things worse by hating yourself for being where you are.
♥ Do as many nice things for yourself as possible. (watch safe comedy movie, snuggle with teddy bears, read comforting books, etc. blankie? long soak in tub?)
♥ Drop what isn't essential in your life. Release the pressure any way you can. This means dropping unsupportive people, quitting activities, lightening your work load, getting extra child care.
♥ Create a safe area in your home. You need at least one place where you feel safe.
♥ Watch your intake of drugs and alcohol. Repeatedly numbing your feelings will only prolong the crisis.
♥ Get out of abusive situations If you're currently in a situation where you're being abused, get out of it.
♥ Sit tight and ride out the storm. Your decision-making capability is limited right now. Except for gettign out of abusive situations, the emergency stage is usually not a good time for making major life changes.
♥ Remind yourself/ves that you're brave. This is a challenging, scary, difficult period. You don't have to do anything but live through it.
♥ Remember to breathe. Stay as connected to your body as you can.
♥ Develop a belief in something greater than yourself. Spirituality can give you inspiration and strength.
♥ This too shall pass. Your experience tomorrow, or next week, or next year will not the the same as it is right now.

♥ Love yourself/ves. (that one is from me xoxox --zh )

The list in book has references to other pages that expand on the topic listed and strategies to help. I hope this is of some use to you.

Thanks to authors Ellen Bass and Laura Davis for compiling the stories into The Courage to Heal. namaste.