Distraction Box

tips on how to cope: dealing with your feelings, dealing with the consequences of self-harm in your life. share your ideas and maybe pick up some new skills, too. you don't have to want to stop to learn something new here.

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Stawberry_Lollipops
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Distraction Box

Post by Stawberry_Lollipops » Sun May 23, 2010 9:50 am

It has been eight months since I've Sied.

What occurred to me the other day is that rather than try and learn new coping methods during these past eight months & ways to deal with urges, I've merely just been repressing everything instead which I don't think is good if I want to continue SI free.

I've decided to make a 'distraction box' to help with the urges. I bought a lovely blue box yesterday but I'm unsure what to actually put in it. Any suggestions? Have any of you made distraction boxes before & what was useful for you? Or what distractions work well for you?

:blkstar: :redstar: :blkstar: Ness :blkstar: :redstar: :blkstar:
~ My Place ~


"Rejoice in our suffering, suffering produces perserverance, perserverance - character and character hope"

* ~ * ~ * ~ *


“There is no use trying,” said Alice; “One can’t believe impossible things!”
“I dare say you haven’t had much practise,” said the Queen. “When I was your age, I always did it for half an hour a day
Why, sometimes I’ve believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast.” - Lewis Carroll


God grant me the serenity to accept the things I can not change, the courage to change the things I can and the wisdom to the difference.

Jamas
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Re: Distraction Box

Post by Jamas » Tue May 25, 2010 12:52 am

Cool idea, Ness! And ... CONGRATS on the :180_days_si_free: :60_days_si_free: !

I don't have a distraction box, but I do have a "psych first aid" kit that I take with me everywhere, and it's got a little bottle of Bach Flower Rescue Remedy, a little bottle of lavender essential oil that I can sniff to calm down & focus, and a tiny bottle of bubble solution with a loop-stick so that I can blow bubbles any time of the day, and blow all of my stressors and problems away. In the past, I had a smooth stone with the word "Courage" engraved on it, that I could "worry" at by rubbing it between my fingers. During the school year, I keep a small pocket Bible with me, written in Italian, so that I can take it out and try to read it whenever I need distraction. I also used to keep photos of loved ones in my wallet, so I could pull them out and think of them when I needed comfort.

Best of luck with your own box! :clover:

Wishing you happy distractions,

-Jamas

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Re: Distraction Box

Post by Roxi » Sun Jun 13, 2010 5:06 pm

I've made one before. Useful things I've put in it were a list of reasons I wanted to stop SI and a list of reasons why I do not deserve to be hurt to read when I feel I do. I also had bubbles like Jamas :D Bubble are AWESOME :) ! I had a printed out page of the before questions as well. I made it a long time ago so I can't remember what else; I think I had a slinky and some pretty crystals and stones. Something else which helped was printing that really long list of coping mechanisms. I highlighted all the ones which I had found helpful in the past / thought would be helpful in the future so that when I was overwhelmed looking at a 15 page list would not be even more overwhelming and the most helpful options stood out. :)
hope this helps :)
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Re: Distraction Box

Post by Heidi4DBT » Sun Oct 17, 2010 4:59 pm

I think that is a great idea. I learned about making one called a hope box.

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Re: Distraction Box

Post by Jamas » Sun Oct 17, 2010 9:07 pm

That sounds cool! Kind of like Pandora's box, in reverse...

What kinds of things would one put in a hope box?

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Re: Distraction Box

Post by Stawberry_Lollipops » Tue Oct 19, 2010 11:41 am

Oh dear, it seems I have neglected this thread :oops:

However thanks all so much for your suggestions. Greatly appreciated! I did end up making a distraction box in the end. I put a lot of different things in it; a stress ball, list of reasons NOT to SI, a photo album of happy memories/people that meant a lot to me, a puzzle book, coloured paper and pencils, bubble wrap (this stuff could entertain me for hours :tongue:) some coloured beads and elastic to make bracelets/necklaces out of and I think I may even have put some chocolates in there too :)

I absolutely love the idea of the bubbles! :D I shall have to hunt some down to put in my box now!

The hope box sounds awesome too. Maybe you could put a list of dreams/hopes/aspirations/goals for the future? Or an object or something that symbolises hope to you...

:dkpurpstar: Ness :dkpurpstar:
~ My Place ~


"Rejoice in our suffering, suffering produces perserverance, perserverance - character and character hope"

* ~ * ~ * ~ *


“There is no use trying,” said Alice; “One can’t believe impossible things!”
“I dare say you haven’t had much practise,” said the Queen. “When I was your age, I always did it for half an hour a day
Why, sometimes I’ve believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast.” - Lewis Carroll


God grant me the serenity to accept the things I can not change, the courage to change the things I can and the wisdom to the difference.

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Re: Distraction Box

Post by Stormy Llwellyn » Thu Oct 21, 2010 1:13 am

I have a polished rock at work that I rub when I am stressed. At home I have an old toy and I am not sure you can get them anymore. It's a Spirograph. It makes drawings by using different size gears.It's very relaxing. I never thought of bubbles! I will have to get some also.
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God,grant me the Serenity to accept the things I cannot change,
Courage to change the things I can,
and the Wisdom to know the difference


TWLOHA

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Re: Distraction Box

Post by SplinteredGirl » Thu Oct 21, 2010 1:53 am

i love the spirograph idea! havnt seen one in years.

you could try some crayons, some paints. i like to melt was crayons sometimes (if candles arnt a trig for you) some scented candles, a coloring book, a notebook to vent in. something to mold with your hands. a picture or letter of/from a loved one. a picture of your pet. a picture of you as a child.

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Re: Distraction Box

Post by mande » Thu Oct 21, 2010 2:55 am

I have pictures of my prom, C's college ID from '98 :o , the ticket stubs from a trip to Michigan, some currency from Jamaica C brought back for me. I should add some lists in there..

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Re: Distraction Box

Post by Neviah » Thu Oct 21, 2010 7:53 am

i have a colouring book and crayons under my bed

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Re: Distraction Box

Post by Stawberry_Lollipops » Sat Oct 23, 2010 7:41 am

The Spirograph sounds awesome Mike! I haven't seen one in agess, not since I was a kid I don't think. It must be such a good distraction :)

Melting crayons sounds like fun too :P
Will have to get myself some crayons and a colouring book I think.

:blkstar: :redstar: :blkstar: Ness :blkstar: :redstar: :blkstar:
~ My Place ~


"Rejoice in our suffering, suffering produces perserverance, perserverance - character and character hope"

* ~ * ~ * ~ *


“There is no use trying,” said Alice; “One can’t believe impossible things!”
“I dare say you haven’t had much practise,” said the Queen. “When I was your age, I always did it for half an hour a day
Why, sometimes I’ve believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast.” - Lewis Carroll


God grant me the serenity to accept the things I can not change, the courage to change the things I can and the wisdom to the difference.

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Re: Distraction Box

Post by Neviah » Sat Oct 23, 2010 7:45 am

Stawberry_Lollipops wrote:Melting crayons sounds like fun too :P
bet it smells vile though lol

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Re: Distraction Box

Post by Stawberry_Lollipops » Sat Oct 23, 2010 7:54 am

lol yes, it probably wouldn't smell very nice but I still think it might be fun. Melting things has always intrigued me, god knows why :roll:
~ My Place ~


"Rejoice in our suffering, suffering produces perserverance, perserverance - character and character hope"

* ~ * ~ * ~ *


“There is no use trying,” said Alice; “One can’t believe impossible things!”
“I dare say you haven’t had much practise,” said the Queen. “When I was your age, I always did it for half an hour a day
Why, sometimes I’ve believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast.” - Lewis Carroll


God grant me the serenity to accept the things I can not change, the courage to change the things I can and the wisdom to the difference.

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Re: Distraction Box

Post by Neviah » Sat Oct 23, 2010 7:56 am

m... i used to find burning tissues amazing. (DO NOT DO IT) mum still doesnt know where that burn in the carpet came from (oops)

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Re: Distraction Box

Post by Annybelly » Mon Oct 25, 2010 9:58 pm

I love spirograph! I had one when I was abour 5 or 6.. so that was, what, 8 or 9 years ago maybe? I had my mums old one as well!
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Re: Distraction Box

Post by volta » Wed Oct 27, 2010 4:08 pm

i have a mini-spirograph kit. you can get them from the toy section at the grocery store for under three dollars here.

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Re: Distraction Box

Post by Stormy Llwellyn » Sat Oct 30, 2010 6:00 am

I had no idea that so many people would like the spirograph idea! I also love to color in a coloring book! Way cool ideas. Great thread!
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God,grant me the Serenity to accept the things I cannot change,
Courage to change the things I can,
and the Wisdom to know the difference


TWLOHA

:moo: Kaylee

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Re: Distraction Box

Post by Neviah » Mon Dec 20, 2010 10:45 am

U used to have spirographs but i could never quite make it work

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Re: Distraction Box

Post by angelic212 » Fri Mar 18, 2011 3:59 am

:ylwstar: :lpurpstar: :lgrnstar: i had an emergency box a long time ago.

i dont have one anymore , but just reading through this post , i think i will make another emergency box,

its always good and helpful to have one.
you never know when you need it.

thanks for the ideas


i would also include a cd of my favorite songs.
and a cd of songs that one of my pen pals sent me.
:1flwrs:

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Re: Distraction Box

Post by SplinteredGirl » Fri Mar 18, 2011 8:20 pm

wow i forgot about this.. i wonder where mine is..

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