Relaxing after session

So on Wednesday I had a really hard time after discussing my suicidal thoughts and "safety plan," and I went home and sobbed all afternoon and night.

What do you guys do to calm down or distract yourselves from sadness that won't go away? I'm having a really hard time lately because of the way things ended with my T of 5+ years, and it devestated me. I usually do unhealthy things like pick at myself and cry way too much, or worse things like SI.

How do you guys calm or distract yourselves? Hobbies? Music? Pets?

I find it hard to care about anything but my broken heart and feeling worthless and abandoned.

When I feel really really bad I watch disaster movies like "the day after tomorrow" or horror movies ( not slasher/gore but like creepy horror)...it somehow makes me feel better

Sessions were tough for me too at times. I used to carry a stuffed animal, chamomile tea and WarHeads (the candy) with me. They were for grounding purposes.

I find getting out of the house helps me. Listening to music or watching TV can help. Writing/typing what I'm feeling. Going on this site

I find that I have to leave the house and get all the sadness out. Cry and cry until there's not much left. Then, I try to distract myself with TV or my kids. (usually reverse order). I got into one TV show (the Black List) that was so suspenseful that I would completely forget about TV and would dream about it and then wake up thinking about the show instead of therapy. After a few episodes I decided it was too dark and bursting my bubble (no news, etc.) so I stopped. But, I know it would completely take my mind off things.

I don't know if you exercise. I run a little and don't really like it. But, a few times when I felt I just wanted to run away I ran and ran. And, it really did make me feel better. I don't know how that happens but my mind was completely different.

Decompress and reflect at a nearby cafe.

I go to the beach, I drive on the highway with my windows open and the bass turned all the way up on my radio, I drink coffee, eat ice cream, listen to music (at normal levels), get out into nature, do some art, play with the critters, go for a walk, journal, come here or another support site, clean (on VERY rare occasions), talk to my wife, curl into bed and hide, nap, drink a single adult beverage (unless I'm too far over the line, then it will just turn bad)...
a less-healthful method (which I use less often nowadays) is sh...

LOL....I keep my Xanax with me. As soon as I'm back to my car, that's usually what I do...

I'm struggling so hard.

thanks everyone.

I'm trying to start knitting again to have something to do other than destructive/painful picking, which I go home and do for anywhere from 2-8 hours every night after work. It gets bad when I'm having a hard time. I can't get the hurt from my ex-T out of my head.

I got home from my session like 8 hours ago...and I still feel a bit shaky/anxiety from it. Hoping I can sleep tonight. You too...

(I'm picking too...have the same spot on my face for three weeks now...if I'd just leave the damn thing ALONE!!!!)

Hugs, I hope you feel better.

My heart still feels broken and it's been over 2 months since I saw her. I feel unloveable.

I dont try and distract myself. I go where the feelings take me. Let them run their course
Is not 'wrong' to feel suicidal in my books. It's such a familiar feeling that I sit with it.

The picking is bad. It's so hard to stop.

I hope you slowly start to feel better, Pink Flamingo.

I buy myself a rare treat like coffee and cake, give myself permission to have an easy "rest of the day", and take a nap.

I've gotten to the point of being very afraid. My thoughts feel dangerous. They aren't vague and it scares me. Talking about it was really hard. It was also hard admitting there is NOBODY in my life I can call. I went home and couldn't stop crying.

In a similar vein, dystopian novels (Think killer plagues etc) seem to distract me and remind me that "things could be worse". (At least I'm not experiencing a zombie apocalypse !)

Silly, I know, but sometimes it works.

But where the the feelings you think your have distracted yourself go? They don't just disappear.
You're just pushing them down. They do more damage there.
They're there telling us something. It takes courage to listen to them. 'dangerous' thoughts are not 'dangerous' on their own.
We're not powerless over our actions or reactions. We may react to them in a familiar pattern. But this is where therapy helps us to change how we feel and respond to such feelings.

Distracting yourself by taking up drinking or having sex with strangers isn't a healthy method lol but healthy distractions aren't bad.such as hobbies exercises talking to friends or helping others.

what helps when I am down is being busy ( not too busy). My t also recommends staying busy. Too much idle time isn't good.

And There were few times when I spent the entire day on PC chat. Once it was on easter. And once in January. Both times I was down so chat kept me so preoccupied plus I wax able to share my feelings so I had no time to cry. I really appreciated that there is a chat room and that people are so supportive. I wouldn't go in to other chats only PC ones.

Try chats.

I pick on my skin too. Not only when upset but pretty much all the time it is extremely bad habit. Can't stand it

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

PinkFlamingo, you're not exactly alone...you got us!

Your picking is much more severe than mine....I'm sorry. For me, if I get stressed out and get a blemish on my face, I pick at it. Constantly. To the point it gets worse and won't heal. I've been trying to keep a moisturizing cream on it constantly so I leave it alone. I also chew on the inside of my lip. To the point it is red and raw and will swell up. So I ALWAYS have gum in my pocket...and I try to chew on that to keep from chewing on my lip. When I was younger I used to chew on it so bad it would actually disfigure that side of my mouth because it was so swollen! I also used to scratch myself when I was younger. Just pick a spot and keep scratching it, until I ended up with a mark...then a scab, then another place I could pick. Luckily I left that in my teenage years. I guess this all has been a life long battle....it sucks.