Feeling trapped

[Bear00]

@Jynx @Till23 

Thank you for being here

When I feel this way, my bestie can help me a bit. So I asked her to come over my place this evening and we had dinner and dessert together. I had a good time with her but I still feel pretty low. My brain’s been unkind to me and I’m trying not to believe what it says rn cos those voices are made by toxic people. But I am suffering rn 

[Till23]

Sorry @Bear00 I am an old person - does "rn" mean right now?

I am so glad you have someone you can connect with when things are not good as well as when they are. Sounds like your bestie is nice.

As you say most of the things the negative voices say are BS but it is sometimes hard to completely ignore them

Do you have things you can do to interrupt or distract you from the voices? 

Do you know grounding exercises like the 5 senses?

Does watching TV or a streaming service or reading a book help?

Do you have sensory objects like fidget toys?

[Jynx]

@Bear00 I do have to log off soon, but I will echo what @Till23 has said - it can be hard to completely ignore those kinds of thoughts and feelings. I try to remind myself that it is not the thoughts, but my reaction to the thoughts, that tells me who I really am. 

Hope to catch you again soon 😊💜

[Bear00]

@Till23 

no need to be sorry:) yes it means right now.

Yes I usually use TIPP skills to make myself calmer. and I do have a fidget toy so I could probably use them to distract myself as well. Probably for the daytime I could force myself to concentrate on study to distract myself from my thoughts. 

and thank you @Jynx too…! It is a good reminder to tell myself as well when things are tough

[Till23]

Mmm not sure "forcing" yourself to study is going to help a lot @Bear00 of course it depends on the level of distress. Also it may affect your study if your brain is really on other things.

It's good that you have TIPP skills,

I was thinking of more basic things like 

Name

5 things you can see

4 things you can hear

3 things you can feel /touch

2 things you can smell

1 thing you can taste.

Also the braething techniques like box breathing

I have to say that I use physical activity a lot. It can be more difficult at night but don't need much space for sit-ups, push-ups or squats

Some people use music as well

For study there is the Pomodoro technique of doing things in short intervals with breaks all timed

Or even a "chunk" of study followed by a chunk of time on something you enjoy, a chunk of study - repeat. 

I'm logging off now, but hope to hear from you in future, if you would like that