Coping Skills

[spdnet75]

I have the privelege of being involved in a rather extensive and powerful recovery program.

My idea, is to have a place for us to share with one another, our Coping Skills.

One of the things that I do in order to feel well, is to clean and keep things in order. I also keep a personal journal. I write in this journal when I feel stressed and I have shared with all of you, many of the things that have become my words in this notebook.

I wanted for all of us to be able to roll off the things that we do in order to cope and to manage our days.

I also think it important for us to share those things that we find to be useless in our travel's. (Just because something works for me, doesn't mean that it will work for any of you. Subsequently, something that I abandon as a potential help, may be just what one or another of us has been looking for.)

Let's share healing techniques and see what happens.

Stephen

 

[angelkiss]

Great idea Stephen!
I have so many coping skills, and there are times they work, and times they don't.
Like you, I journal and I also write poetry. (When my mind is able to slow down enough)
I also try to play mind games to slow my mind down. Sometimes, they help me get focused. Games such as: Chuzzle, Mayong, etc. Zapspot has really good thinking games that are free to download.

 

[COVINABP]

Well, I have to think about the good coping things, I do journal, I can't write poetry to save me (though I tried as a kid). I don't have the same mind games, but I play games in my mind, like spelling hard words in my mind when I say them, or easy words that sound funny (like diesel)

 

[lemonflavor]

Also see:
Sticky: us Bipolar exsperts on managing skills
at the top of the main page. A new thread is good though.

I need to lie down a lot and I often listen to mellow instrumental music while sleeping and reading. I need to read a lot of Christian books to keep my mind off the bad things and on the good things.

 

[angelkiss]

As most people know, I have a lot of animals. They are a wonderful coping skill most of the time. They really keep my mind on things other than my illness. Of course, when they get hurt, I'm escalated from 0 to balistic with the snap of the fingers. Still, they are an important part of my life and I love them all so very much.

 

[spdnet75]

All I wanted to do was find my own way to reach out to all of you.

Clearly, I have no original ideas and you should look elsewhere.

Take care.

Stephen

 

[Jeshu]

I write down my prayer. It is really more of a prayer journal, in it I write down what I 'm going through (sharing even my hardest times with God) I found it very good for coping as I focus my prayer on my inner turmolt and bring it for His throne of grace and peace.

 

[angelkiss]

Music, sometimes does the trick. Depending on my mood. Especially soft music.........My therapist is going to give me a copy of a christian cd she usually plays in her office. It's got the celtic sounds and it's soooo soothing.

 

[angelkiss]

All I wanted to do was find my own way to reach out to all of you.

Clearly, I have no original ideas and you should look elsewhere.

Take care.

Stephen

Aww Stephen, I'm enjoying this thread It's really helpful.
's and es!!

 

[lemonflavor]

All I wanted to do was find my own way to reach out to all of you.

Clearly, I have no original ideas and you should look elsewhere.

Take care.

Stephen

I sure hope my post wasn't taken the wrong way. If so I'm sorry. Like seeing your posts here. This is a good thread.

 

[spdnet75]

I doubt that GoldenViolet feels as though I tried to steal an item.

I've been very sensitive recently and just had an idea. Perhaps it is a sign that I forgot about her thread. We tend to become bored with ideas and concepts rather easily.

I'm having a lot of trouble lately because my Brother and his friend are living with me. (They took me in in years past, so I fealt obligated.) The stress, is unimaginable. I just can't seem to get far enough away from them and feel anger that I need to leave my own house to feel comfortable.

The good news, is that my Brother's friend may have found a job and they may be moving on soon enough.

My coping skills have been taken to the very limit in the past three months and I'm proud that I have not been broken as a result but, I've been very angry and on edge.

Since this is what it is, I like to take a drive with the windows down and the radio up when I am feeling stress. Music, massages the soul!

Stephen

 

[PrairieGurl]

Stephen,

I really liked how you put 'music massages the soul' That's exactly how I feel!

I also find driving (I go out to the country) with the tunes blasting a great mind 'easer'. I do find I have to stay away from music from my past...as it tends to cloud my mind. When I do start listening to that music, it's a danger sign to me....that things are going to take a nasty turn

s & s,
Wendy

 

[mysojourn]

I write down my prayer. It is really more of a prayer journal, in it I write down what I 'm going through (sharing even my hardest times with God) I found it very good for coping as I focus my prayer on my inner turmolt and bring it for His throne of grace and peace.

I like the idea of a prayer journal. I've been keeping prayer journals for about 10 years now. It helps me to focus on God and list the things I am concerned about most and present them to God and they don't have to swirl around my brain all the time once I've given them to God in my journal. I received answers to prayers and days later go back to my journal and find the answer came the day same I entered my prayer request becuase it's all there documented. God is so faithful. And I get to tell God exactly how I feel about someone or something, even very negative feelings and don't have to tell anyone else about it. Nobody else has to know. My journals are so helpful because This helps me cope in a tangible way because I need to write when I am going through an episode.

 

[angelkiss]

I like to walk.......of course, this time of year is a good time for me for my bee allergies. Walking is a way of inner venting for me. When I'm extremely upset and start pacing that's a bad sign and I've found that walking it off prevents a lot of broken things, holes in the walls, etc.

 

[angelkiss]

Soaking in a nice hot bath is a plus for me There have been times I have taken up to 4 baths in a day. If I'm extremely stressing and I just can't shake it, it hasn't done away with everything, but it's at least calming for a little while.