I was in chat last night and I enjoyed it a great deal!

One thing that stuck out from chat was the mention of a grounding box

If some folks here use a grounding box, could you give me some ideas of what to put inside of one? Can this grounding box be transported from place to place? Say could I take it from home to my therapy sessions etc? It really sounds like something useful for me and I'm willing to try anything at this point.

Thanks in advance

[darkpurplesecrets]

((((carinheart))))

Thank you for asking and yes I do have a grounding box. A grounding box can be any size and yes if it is something you want to take to therapy you can. The one I have could be taken to therapy if I wanted to take it.

I keep things that help me to ground and that are safe to me too (and those within). I have things like sour candy, rubbing stone, crayons, pens and pencils, rubber bands, paper, little stuffed animal, and other things. I also have a key to my old therapists first car that she gave me to hold onto when I got scared.

It meant something to me as she had kept it and it was her favorite car and I knew she was a safe person. Knowing that she trusted me to have it meant a lot and was something I could take out and hold as she was in the present (silly but it was a way to connect when I was not in therapy and at the time my only way to feel safe as she was the safest person in my life and when I left she let me keep it).

I also have an angel stone that sometimes is in my box although she usually stays with me at all times as she is from someone that is safe and that not only myself but all within knows cares and loves us. So it really helps us to stay connected to the present where we can know we are safe.

One thing that is in there is a list of phone numbers to those that I trust. There is also the number to the ER, therapists office, the emergency services, my friends number, etc. Also on a piece of paper I have listed many of my PC friends that are supportive and care.

This list of friends helps me to connect to the fact that I am not alone and that there are those that care. When I am in a place of not feeling safe or grounded being able to see this helps me.

Also in my box are positives that have helped me too. Positive affirmations that I can see and connect to. Sometimes in the feelings I am having the positives give me the hope that helps me connect to the here and now.

You can decorate a plain box so that it is something you have done and feels safe or you can get a decorated box that is already done. Also if you want to you can use a plain box or any container that you want to.

It has helped me tremendously many times and it feels safe because I know it is there and has the things that make me feel safe. Sometimes I just hold it or look in it to remind myself it is there and of the things within so that when I start to feel myself having a hard time, it is familiar and something I know is there. (Also having DID it helps those within too and they know that it is there when they feel scared or need to connect.)

There are many other things that you can put in there as it is really up to you and what can make you feel safe and help you to stay grounded in the here and now. I am glad that you were at chat last night and glad that this helped you.

Sending you gentle hugs and loving thoughts.

dps

darkpurplesecrets

do you realize how much you have helped me through the past couple of days? I know it sounds weird, because we only chatted that one time in chat, yet Something that sounds so inanimate and so simple, yet so necessary for me right now, just the thought of putting this in action has given me some hope that I can feel some present peace of mind!

Thank you so much for this...you have made a difference in this person's life!

p.s. my T called me today, suggested I walk to the river and pick out a rock and paint it for my inner child and place it in my rock garden.

[lxegirl]

what is a grounding box?

[OrangeMoira]

Thanks for this!

I have an extra little purse that I take with me. Inside of it, I have a book that I filled with grounding techniques to do when I can't think, affirmations, pictures, and positive things about myself. I also have little toys, rocks, and objects that make me happy.