A distraction box, or self harm survival kit, is just that - a box full of things to distract you from self injuring. You can put anything in there that you like, and can decorate the box however much you want to. Some things that we think could help include:
Stress ballsPen and paperChamomile tea bag (renowned for relieving stress apparently)Bubble wrapPositive quotesFunny cartoons (laughter is best medicine)CrosswordPlasticinePhone numbers, useful websitesPhotos or pictures that mean something to youSudoku or little puzzle gamesPositive stories...
Thursday, 29 September 2016
Monday, 26 September 2016
Thursday, 22 September 2016
Seeking help with self harm.
The major step is to talk to someone about it. It can be scary to bring up a topic that you've tried so hard to hide, but it can also be a significant release to finally let go of your secret and share what you’re struggling with.
It can be difficult to decide who you should open up to. It's best to select someone who isn’t going to gossip or try to take control of your recovery. Choose from whoever in your life makes you feel accepted and supported. That person could be a friend, teacher, therapist or relative. Remember, you don’t always have...
When's the right time to recover?
There is never more of a right time than NOW.
Believe that you can do this, no matter what.
That you can HEAL and RECOVER FULLY, no matter what anyone THINKS.
No matter what anyone has told you in the past.
No matter what you believed yesterday.
It can all be changed, instantly, right now.
But you HAVE to make a decision.
..because if you wait until you FEEL like doing recovery, well… you will be waiting FOREVE...
A lovely quote for the day.
"I’ve come to believe that all my past failure and frustration were actually laying the foundation for the understandings that have created the new level of living I now enjo...
Tuesday, 20 September 2016
The scales.
I think it is so hard to destroy the scale because even in recovery, it is one last little piece of control. So that if things “get out of hand" with our weight, we will at least know. Because the only thing scarier than gaining (more) weight is not knowing when we gain weight.
The number on the scale has the ability to determine my mood for the entire day or even week and had became what I used to measure my worth..
No matter what the number was - high, low, or even if it remained the same - it was never, ever good enough....
Consider this.
"...It's funny, when people think of triggers for people with eating disorders they often think of glossy magazines or models on catwalks. But, like you, loneliness is one of my biggest triggers. Because ultimately, eating disorders are a coping mechanism for dealing with life.
People with eating disorders aren't "crazy" or shallow.
They are just people who are struggling."
...
Eating Disorder recovery phases
1. I Don’t Think I Have a Problem.
It’s my body so leave me alone.
There are people who are a lot thinner (worse) than I am
2. I Might Have a Problem But It’s Not That Bad.
I only throw up once in a while.
My physical didn’t show anything wrong so I am OK.
3. I Have a Problem But I Don’t Care.
I know throwing up isn’t good for me, but it’s working for me so I don’t care.
I could change if I wanted to, but I don’t.
4. I Want To Change But I Don’t Know How and I’m Scared.
I want to eat normally, but I am afraid I will get fat...
Monday, 19 September 2016
Some truthful insight.
Remember, an Eating Disorder doesn’t mean you wither and die, it is life threatening at any point. Sometimes the people who are more likely to die are not those who have a lower BMI than you. This got me to thinking, while it is important to not have a dangerously low BMI, the focus on weight and BMI is incorrect.
If you don’t have to wither and die for an eating disorder to be fatal, then an eating disorder is like a burning candle, a person can only take so much, and like a candle run out of wax and wick too quick and snuff out,...
Sunday, 18 September 2016
It's okay to eat
somedays are easier than others.
somedays you feel like you can’t go on.
somedays you want to forget recovery and go back to your old habits.
here’s a friendly reminder for those tricky times:
it’s okay to eat.
food is not the enemy, the disease is.
show your eating disorder who’s boss.
you are beautiful.
you deserve gentle reminder...
Online Resources (EXTENSIVE LIST)
Chat Rooms/Forums:
www.eatingdisorders.org.au
www.b-eat.co.uk
www.mentorconnect-ed.org
People with Eating Disorders
www.isis.org.au
www.eda.org.au
www.eatingdisorders.org.au
www.butterflyfoundation.org.au
www.recoveryispossible.com.au
www.bulimiahelp.org
www.smart-eating.com
www.oabrisbane.com
www.mentorconnect-ed.org
www.innersolutions.net
www.something-fishy.com
www.recoveryrecord.com
www.pale-reflections.com/
http://www.eatingdisordersanonymous.org
http://www.graceonthemoon.com/
Men with Eating Disorders
www.mengetedstoo.co.uk
www.ichosetolive.com
www.namedinc.org
Body...
Things that signify a possible Eating Disorder relapse (WARNING SIGNS)
Skipping meals/snacks
Purging
Retreating to my room and isolating myself
Making excuses not to have meals with family/friends – avoiding situations that involve food.
Significant increase in exercise
Sleeping more/less than usual
Missing appointments
Decreased energy
Increased depression and feelings of hopelessness
Increase in frequency of weighing myself (note…there is NO need to weigh myself at home…ever! If my weight needs to be monitored, I can leave it up to my GP or dietitian to do so)
Increase in perfectionistic thinking
In my experience,...
Tips on dealing with emotional responses
Imagining your emotions as clouds in the sky – watch them float by in their own time, eventually passing out of sight.
Take 10 deep, slow breaths.
Utilise a feelings/emotions chart to try to identify what I am feeling and grade its intensity.
Visualise the feelings as a wave – ride the wave into the shore.
Sit and tolerate the anxiety/distress/unpleasant feelings.
Take opposite action.
Count up and backwards in 3’s, 4’s, 6’s, 7’s, etc.
Engage in a relaxation activity.
Identify 3 things I can see, 3 things I can hear, 3...
An interesting description of Normal Eating.
Normal eating is going to the table hungry and eating until you are satisfied.
It is being able to choose food you like and eat it and truly get enough of it -- not just stop eating because you think you should.
Normal eating is being able to give some thought to your food selection so you get nutritious food, but not being so wary and restrictive that you miss out on enjoyable food.
Normal eating is giving yourself permission to eat sometimes because you are happy, sad, or bored, or just because it feels good.
Normal eating...