[Sometimes psychotic]

https://forums.psychcentral.com/bipo...are-boxes.html

So here is the original thread the idea is to make a box filled with your favorite stuff in case you feel like garbage etc. I'm not sure how many people visit the bipolar forum so I decided to post it here as a resource...

My box would have

Grapefruit bath salts
Nutella
Peppermint hot cocoa
A book of puzzles and games
A "permission slip" to buy ten new songs from iTunes
Some pretty rocks and crystals
And the best of your additions below that I will steal I mean um learn

[Erti]

Reminds me of this (copied past it from my facebook)
....

Crisis Survival Kit

I found this on a website looking for things to help me cope with some things. I wanted ot share this. This may seem a little cheesy but honestly I think it's a good thing to atleast try once. Anyone can benefit from this. Anyways I found it on a sight called Pandora's Project. highly suggest this website to thoes who have survived rape and sexual abuse

Pandora's Aquarium

Anyways here it goes

...

Everyone can have difficult days from time to time. Sometimes those days can be so overwhelming that it is difficult to think clearly enough to figure out what to do for yourself. This is the kind of day when you need a crisis survival kit. So, this week's challenge is about making a crisis survival kit for yourself. The next time you have an overwhelming day, you won't have to exhaust yourself trying to figure out what to do, you can simply reach for your kit and use it! Of course, this kit can also be used at any time of day on any kind of day as it is a great self care tool as well!!

How to make your personal crisis survival kit:

1. Choose a container that is approximately the size of a shoebox. You may choose to decorate the outside of your box with motivating poems, pictures, etc.

2. Find at least one item that will soothe each of your five senses to be placed in your survival kit. Use the space below to list your ideas/items. Examples are in the parentheses.

a. Smell- (aromatherapy candle, perfume, sachet)

b. Sight- (motivating picture)

c. Touch- (make your own stress ball, touchstones)

d. Taste- (Breath strips, something strong e.g. Altoids)

e. Hearing- (CD of favorite music)

3.Add 10 positive affirmations written on index cards

4.Add 1 Wonky Thought Card (On one side of the index card write a belief that you have e.g. “I am worthless therefore I deserve nothing.” On the opposite side write three objective challenges: e.g. “Because I do not like myself I am not an accurate judge of my character and cannot determine what I truly deserve.” “Other people compliment me frequently and tell me I’m valued, therefore, I must be valuable.” Etc.)

5.Whenever you feel yourself beginning to be ungrounded, take yourself to a quiet spot and go through everything in your crisis survival kit at least once

6. If you are struggling with any kind of self-destructive behaviors, try using your entire crisis survival kit at least once when you begin to feel urges, and before you engage in any behaviors.

[Sometimes psychotic]

Yeah I like the whole senses thing it reminds me of this post by justmeandmyhead...

https://forums.psychcentral.com/schi...piness-21.html

Did you ever make a box?

[Bells129]

This is a great idea. I'm definitely going to do it, thank you for posting this on here! I'll have to give some thought as to what I'll put in it, I like your ideas though Erti with the senses and I think the itunes slip is a great idea too.

[Erti]

Yeah, I made a box.... let me try to post some of it.

Here;s the box

[Sometimes psychotic]

Originally Posted by Erti

Yeah, I made a box.... let me try to post some of it.

Here;s the box

Awesome I am thinking of gift wrapping mine so I don't break into it for snacks....I want some chips in there because I never eat them....possibly tortilla chips with that cheese dip....you know the queso that is probably less than 1% actual cheese...that stuff rocks!

[Erti]

Originally Posted by Sometimes psychotic

Awesome I am thinking of gift wrapping mine so I don't break into it for snacks....I want some chips in there because I never eat them....possibly tortilla chips with that cheese dip....you know the queso that is probably less than 1% actual cheese...that stuff rocks!

That actually sounds delicious. As for the taste aspect I just have some lifesavers mints. They can be addicting but for me I'm not braking into my box every time I want some mints.

[Sometimes psychotic]

Originally Posted by Erti

That actually sounds delicious. As for the taste aspect I just have some lifesavers mints. They can be addicting but for me I'm not braking into my box every time I want some mints.

Well I'm off sugar and unhealthy snacks in the house right now except for special occasions so I would totally break into it for mints in fact I was extremely happy to get a peppermint lifesaver along with some survey thing at the grocery last week...I have a bit of a sweet tooth ....

[Erti]

Originally Posted by Sometimes psychotic

Well I'm off sugar and unhealthy snacks in the house right now except for special occasions so I would totally break into it for mints in fact I was extremely happy to get a peppermint lifesaver along with some survey thing at the grocery last week...I have a bit of a sweet tooth ....

Lol I have a sweet tooth as well. However the house if full of sweets I am in diabetic heaven. Everyone in my house has a sweet tooth. Peanut butter everywhere, stuff to make smores, Pop, Cereal, and doughnuts. We're not the healthiest of families.

[Lillybird90]

Wow this sounds like a good idea.I have this dark red box that has a key I used I am putting items in it now.so far I put,
a cd that has a mix of songs that make me feel good
A few dvds of movies I love to watch that make me laugh
Some photos of pretty scenery that I like to look at
this bottle of mint and green tea bubble bath combo that I mixed myself.
cherry blossom incense sticks with lighter
a pad of clean drawing paper a fine tipped art pen and some pencil crayons and markers.
A box of nestle smarties and some mini butterfingers
Some funny books and a few comic books I love
I will add more when I think of it

Thanks everyone for sharing. I'm gonna make one. I've got to get all the supplies. I know for sure I'll include pics of my mom and son, and lavender for the scent. And a ocean picture. Really good ideas everyone.

I think I'm gonna work on this tonight. I'm gonna use the example Erti put up. Thanks Erti. Struggling. see my peer counselor tomorrow though, so I will get out.

Could those that are able to send positive vibes my way please...

So I put pictures of my mom and my son.
Some body spray.
A cinnamon, vanilla scented candle.
A blush brush, (for the touch, couldn't find anything else. Will have to figure out more for touch.)
And I wrote out some positive statements in a green pen. Want to write more out in blue, too.
Need to figure something out for sound/hearing. It will probably be a cranberries or Tori Amos CD.

I added some mints.

Right now I'm just trying to distract myself...so sorry for posting so much.

I want to add some cool precious stone jewelry. A CD of waves, rain, birds etc. I'm gonna get a travel magazine and decorate the outside of my box with different places I'd like to go. Need to find the pics of my cats. Want some kind of precious stone. And juicy perfume.

But that will take time, will only be able to buy a little at a time.

[Sometimes psychotic]

I ordered some fun stuff like coloring books and a dinosaur art book and stuff and it all came in the day after my bird passed away so it was perfect timing....I didn't expect to use it so soon.....

Originally Posted by Sometimes psychotic

I ordered some fun stuff like coloring books and a dinosaur art book and stuff and it all came in the day after my bird passed away so it was perfect timing....I didn't expect to use it so soon.....

Oh that's awesome! I was looking at adult coloring books. They were mainly of medallions and patterns and stuff like that. What I would love to find is some on animals, grizzlys , wolves, big cats. I'm gonna keep looking...

[Sometimes psychotic]

Originally Posted by sunshine1995

Oh that's awesome! I was looking at adult coloring books. They were mainly of medallions and patterns and stuff like that. What I would love to find is some on animals, grizzlys , wolves, big cats. I'm gonna keep looking...

I got some garden ones peacocks art noveau animal designs etc....all very cool one is post cards you can send...

[StarStrike]

This sounds like a really good idea. I might just try this for myself.

Originally Posted by Sometimes psychotic

I got some garden ones peacocks art noveau animal designs etc....all very cool one is post cards you can send...

Those sound awesome! Are they a particular brand or something? I'd love to get something similar, and maybe use them in my craft class... I hope using them is helpful right now

I have a 'suicide box' which I put together a few years ago with objects/pics to remind me of reasons not to, which sometimes helps if I'm not too far gone, but maybe I could put some self-care stuff in to use at times like that too cos there's some good ideas here. Thanks everyone!

*Willow*

[Sometimes psychotic]

Originally Posted by WeepingWillow23

Those sound awesome! Are they a particular brand or something? I'd love to get something similar, and maybe use them in my craft class... I hope using them is helpful right now

I have a 'suicide box' which I put together a few years ago with objects/pics to remind me of reasons not to, which sometimes helps if I'm not too far gone, but maybe I could put some self-care stuff in to use at times like that too cos there's some good ideas here. Thanks everyone!

*Willow*

Creative Haven Art Nouveau Animal Designs Coloring Book (Creative Haven Coloring Books): Marty Noble, Creative Haven: 9780486493107: Amazon.com: Books

Here is one----its amazon US but they might have it for UK also----

You know they are actually really helpful for the sort of restless feeling I get with abilify---it's not as bad as what others describe but I get a little bit of that....

Thanks Sometimes! I will check out UK stockists cos I looked inside the book and the pictures are amazing!

*Willow*

Omg I've just spent a fortune! It's all your fault Sometimes!! lol I got the nature mandala colouring one, the one you linked to and a peacock one too. Plus I got a learn to draw animals book cos I've been thinking about trying to learn to draw and a lady at the craft group uses those kind of books to draw mythical creatures and says they're really helpful.

*Willow*

I'm excited! Just got back from meeting with peer counselor.

I went to Wal-Mart and got a really cool craft box for $3, I'm gonna use that as my self care box. It has a zebra design. Then I got a piece of a pink and silver boa like material for touch and sight. Then a string of stones that are turquoise, gold and chestnut colored. So cool! And my peer counselor grows lavender so when I see her next she's gonna give me some. I love lavender.

My son even thinks it's cool. He's like, "mom, that's really good for you." Lol. Oh and I got a magazine that has different locations and beaches and different ways to decorate and stuff. Like ways to decorate beach houses.

I'm really happy I did this.

[Sometimes psychotic]

Originally Posted by sunshine1995

I'm excited! Just got back from meeting with peer counselor.

I went to Wal-Mart and got a really cool craft box for $3, I'm gonna use that as my self care box. It has a zebra design. Then I got a piece of a pink and silver boa like material for touch and sight. Then a string of stones that are turquoise, gold and chestnut colored. So cool! And my peer counselor grows lavender so when I see her next she's gonna give me some. I love lavender.

My son even thinks it's cool. He's like, "mom, that's really good for you." Lol. Oh and I got a magazine that has different locations and beaches and different ways to decorate and stuff. Like ways to decorate beach houses.

I'm really happy I did this.

That sounds awesome...glad you're getting into this so much

Originally Posted by Sometimes psychotic

That sounds awesome...glad you're getting into this so much

I really am! I'm gonna use it a lot! The lady at walmart that cut the pink boa feather thing was like, (I just got like a foot of it) but she was like, "what's this for?" I said oh a self care box. She was like, like for kids, are you a teacher or something. I felt a little embarrassed and my peer counselor said, no for her. Even some adults need self care boxes. I love my peer counselor! I wish she could be my therapist. Anyway the lady at walmart was like yeah that's true...Lol.