[MissCharlotte]

When you are in therapy there exists a "holding environment" that (theoretically) helps you to manage the awful feelings that arise.

In addition to that holding environment (whatever and however you and your therapist define it) there are things you can do for yourself. Sometimes I think I need a big fat poster with a numbered list on it:

1. Listen to relaxation tape.
2. Walk the dog (preferably all the way around the block and not just in front of the house).
3. Make a pot of coffee and read. (This requires concentration, that may not exist when I am really "in it.")
4. Take a shower.
5. Take a bath.
6. Walk on the treadmill.
7. Eat peanut butter and jelly or pea soup or a BLT or tea with milk and sugar. (usually I drink tea black but when I was little I had it with milk and sugar if I was sick)
8. Watch a movie.
9. Listen to some music.
10. Paint something or do a craft.
11. breathe, breathe, breathe
12. Meditate
13. Pray
14. Clean the kitchen or vacuum
15. Start over, eliminating 14.

How do you manage? (Please no holding environment topics here, that's in another thread.)

[Perna]

1. Read novels
2. Journal or otherwise write
3. Read and work self-help books/workbooks
4. Sleep (perchance to dream something useful)
5. Work on computer "stuff" (school, PC, personal projects)
6. Go out with purpose (grocery shopping, meal with friend, other shopping or chores, library)
7. Work on a non-computer project
8. Cook or bake
9. Find/buy self-help/spiritual books on tape to listen to driving to/from work
10. Sit, daydream, fantasize, "doodle" on clipboard inventing philathropic organizations or entrepreneurial businesses (if I had ten million dollars :-)
11. Watch TV

[chaotic13]

Excellent thread. After you can admit you want or need support between session, the next step is figuring out how to get it or do it yourself. I LIKE IT!

I've been trying these in addition to some of the ones listed above:
1. Make it a point to try my best to engage in meaningful conversations with others and permit myself to establish more close interpersonal relationships. Although I've always wanted this, I never took the risks necessary to create it. Luckily, I've realized that I had 2 casual friends who were just waiting for me to engage them on another level.

2. When I'm feeling down, I try to connect with my kids. My kids are great and at least at this point welcome my attention and interaction with them. I know this will not likely last, but its working now so I'm rolling with it.

3. Exercise, this gives me an excuse to give myself some personal time.

4. Work on my dissertation. This is one distraction technique I need to use a lot more often :-)

[Brian37]

Im learing to play guitar....so I pick it up and work on scales

I have a 2 1/2 year old son who keeps me laughing and reminds
me of the good things in life

I run a small business with only 1 other employee so my mind stays
in the "make money" mode 16-18 hours a day

I tend to get most depressed on the weekends....thats when im restless and my mind wanders into the darkness.......

[chaotic13]

</font><blockquote><div id="quote"><font class="small">Quote:</font>
Brian37 said:

I tend to get most depressed on the weekends....thats when im restless and my mind wanders into the darkness.......

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Me too. In the earlier morning hours, down time between classes, weekends, holiday breaks. These are all times when I am affected most. It seems like when I finally have time to myself, I feel it most. Maybe I'm my own trigger.

[OliviaC]

Good thread!

Things I do for self-support:

Prayer & Bible reading (actually Holy Spirit support )
Read (I have a huge collection of books)
Visit the library
Play with/groom/walk/talk to my 3 wonderful dogs
Computer time
Call a friend just to talk (not about problems)
Watch a TV show I've DVR'd

Retail therapy doesn't usually work for me, as I am on a strict budget right now but I know it helps a couple of my friends.