after slip

[the edge of the world]

Questions to Answer After A Slip
slips are chances to learn. you figure out what stresses are still too hard for you and you can work on how you'll deal with them next time you run into them. so instead of beating yourself up, take action.

* have you taken care of your physical wounds? if not, go do that now. we'll wait.

Yes, this was several days ago

* what had happened just before?

Had my treatment team meeting. Told if I don't respond better to suggestions made in group my December, I have to leave.

* what were you thinking and feeling?

What is wrong with me? Why can't I do anything right?

* why did you end up hurting yourself then instead of some other time? was there an event that was the final straw? what was it?

I wasn't being mindful of my urges because it hasn't happened in so long and I was so upset.

* how did the situation get to the final straw stage? trace it back through the events that led up to the last event. look for some point at which you could have made a different decision and not arrived at the final straw.

I could have stayed out in the open so that I wasn't alone. I usually control myself pretty well when I'm with other people.

* were there outside factors like drugs, alsohol, being off your meds, lack of sleep, etc? can you address those in the future? how?

Don't think so.

* what other ways of coping did you try besides self-harm? how well did they work?

Breathing, crying, tried to do some positive self-talk, removing self from stressful situation, ...
Not so well, obviously.

* in retrospect, are there coping methods that you now realize might have helped? what were they?

I should have been more mindful that I might try to hurt myself so that I could have stopped myself.

* name at least two things you will do to help yourself remember those coping methods if you end up in this situation again.

- Well... I think this experience will bring up the memory, which will prepare me.
- Plan better -- not just, "I'm bringing a book to read after my meeting", but specific - "I will leave the meeting, go to the bathroom for some tissue, leave the bathroom and sit for a while, read my book, get a snack, and wait for my therapy session"

* how do you feel about the situation that led to self-harm now? is it resolved? if not, what are some steps you might take toward resolution?

It doesn't feel resolved. I guess I'll talk about it in therapy

* are you likely to be in that emotional place again? how will you recognize it when you're in that situation?

Yes. Um... plan better, again.

* what will you try before you resort to self-harm if you're in that situation again? list three specific things you will commit to trying.

-counting
-listening to sounds
-breathing better..