Self-Harm Recovery Daily Check-In: Monday, June 15th, 2020
Heya everyone! A new week is starting and today I wanted to briefly talk about mindfulness. (or you can also jump to the check-in questions :p)
Last week, many mentioned finding it hard to stay in the present moment and to really live it. And I was just listening to a Ted-talk yesterday suggesting that mindfulness could be a helpful tool for that. They described mindfulness as paying attention to the present moment were living, with awareness but without any emotional reactivity to what were living. Kinda like watching clouds pass over our heads, but without trying to think about their shapes. By practicing mindfulness it is said that were more able to stay focused in the present moment, even when being under stress and when wed usually picture 100 outcomes of the situation were in. It is also said to improve compassion, towards others but also ourselves, which can be a great thing to build during recovery.
Mindfulness can also be helpful to help us deal with overthinking and dealing with urges or strong emotions, by practicing to watch them pass as cloud and not letting them affect us as much as they usually would.
Of course, it takes practice. Some exercises can be to practice mindful breathing for several minutes, by trying to picture the air flow coming into your nose, spreading into your lungs and coming out. It can also be practiced by focusing on how your feet are feeling, without judging, only noticing, and then your ankles and so on until youve reached the top of your head. I'm really no expert though so you guys might have better exercises, feel free to share!
(heres the original ted-talk for those who would like to listen to it)
1) How are you doing?
2) How did your weekend go?
3) Do you believe practicing mindfulness could be helpful in any way for you? Why?
4) Which song/book/movie/art piece has struck you the most? And why?
Feel free to share anything else in your mind! Ill be looking forward hearing from you all!
Take good care of your amazing selves, stay safe <3
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@LinearWaves
1) How are you doing?
Pretty well, nothing much going on right now
2) How did your weekend go?
Calm, bit boring, didn't draw as much as I liked, cause I was drawing the face of my drawing, which I always find hard. Not being happy with it, I just put it aside
3) Do you believe practicing mindfulness could be helpful in any way for you? Why?
Not sure, we do mindfulness exercises during group therapy, and they never feel like they have much of an effect. But I have become more calm because of therapy, so the mindfulness probably is helping with that as well. The hard part is to apply mindfulness in hard moments, when we need it the most
4) Which song/book/movie/art piece has struck you the most? And why?
There's this song, Hikaru nara by Goose house, that I can always listen to to cheer up. And I believe it to be a catalyst for me to get into anime and Japanese music.
@Madaraismyspiritanimal
Hey there Richard! It
@LinearWaves
Hi Waves :) Thanks for the post !
1) How are you doing? Good, still trying to wake up, will be going to work soon (not really looking forward to it).
2) How did your weekend go? Good thanks :)
3) Do you believe practicing mindfulness could be helpful in any way for you? Why? I've heard a lot about mindfulness, not quite sure if it could work for me. As much as I enjoy the present, I always feel a deep connexion to everything surrounding me. I don't think I'd just be able to watch the clouds go by without trying to find out their shape, admiring their colour and paying attention to the strength of the wind ...
4) Which song/book/movie/art piece has struck you the most? And why? Oooh that's a hard one. There are so many things that I enjoy and I don't need much to be fascinated by something x) A song that I find really comforting is Mixtape 2 by Stray Kids. Book wise I really enjoy the Harry Potter universe and Attack on Titan. The anime Death Parade has a special place in my heart. I'm not really into movies but if you want a good laugh Toc Toc is good.
Have a good day <3
@Slizzy564
Hey Slizzy ! I hope you managed to wake up and that work is going alright, even if youre not looking forward to it (definitely understandable!)
Youre actually very right, come to think of it I do still want to be able to be connected to my surroundings :o I think though (Im really no expert at all on mindfulness!) that both can be combined, for example you can still notice the shape of the clouds, the colours, the strength of the wind, and so on, but not let it affect you? Like not be sad if there is one shape of cloud that you cant really identify or if the wind destroys the cloud that had a pretty shape, if we push the comparison a bit further. But then again, Im no expert, Im still trying to understand the concept and to see if it could have a use!
Im playing Mixtape 2 as Im replying, its really nice thanks for sharing it, there is something about their voices that is really calming! The Harry Potter universe is definitely really special, Im actually quite curious about how things would have been without these books, as it has really influenced lots of us who grew up with the books! Ill check Toc Toc and Death Parade one of these days if I find some time!
Thanks for checking in and sharing! I hope you have a good day too, take care <3
@LinearWaves
Well work started off okay but then didn't go so good ... I'm kinda frustrated that my efforts aren't being recognized. Days like today, I just want to go work somewhere else.
Hum yeah I see what you mean. It's probably possible, I don't know I've never really tried it. It's not really the sort of thing that I could see myself doing. I suppose it's basically putting your brain on pause right ? I'd think it could be useful to people who are overwhelmed or anxious.
It's my number 1 comfort song. I really like the lyrics, the phrase 'if there's a shadow, then there must be a light' got me through some hard times. I never thought of that ! I can't imagine people growing up without reading the series .. It was such a universal phenomenon. If you ever do check them out, I'd be curious to hear your opinion :)
Thanks for your thoughtful reply <3
@Slizzy564
Oh I
@LinearWaves
It depends ... I'm in a weird position that means that I rely on other people to give me feedback in order to do my work. Thing is I work in different units everyday, so I'm not around most of the time. A lot of people just don't bother to interact because they consider that I'm not there with them so I'm not working at all which isn't true. Meaning that some days I get zero recognition but some days, when I get along with the team quite well, I get recognition. It's a bit weird to explain without going into all the details but mostly I get the impression of being a ghost of sorts. It's frustrating most of the time.
Oh yeah I know that some people have never seen the movies/read the books, it just seems weird to me x)
@Slizzy564
That definitely sounds like a complex and challenging position… Is there some way you could let the teams know/remind them that you rely on them for feedback to do your work so if they don
@LinearWaves
I mean sure I can talk to them about it but if they're not interested, they won't want to know. I've already tried taking the first step to create dialogue and some teams just won't have it. They're like that with any other worker in the same kind of position as me so I know it's not personal.
@LinearWaves
1) How are you doing?
Im am ok. A lot of hopelessness and loneliness.
2) How did your weekend go?
Weekends are really tough for me because I tend to isolate myself in my house and not talk to anyone. But this weekend I tried to journal a lot and was able to overcome my desire to self-harm.
3) Do you believe practicing mindfulness could be helpful in any way for you? Why?
Yes, I try to use mindfulness meditation exercises often. On some days they can really calm me down. On other days, I struggle to focus and stay out of my head.
4) Which song/book/movie/art piece has struck you the most? And why?
The book 'We Are Okay ' by Nina LaCour is a helpful fictional work which I can identify with. I feel deep empathy for the protagonist. I struggle to give myself the same empathy, so I can almost use it as a self-love tool.
@optimisticNectarine3923
Hey there ! Its good to hear youre ok, despite a lot of hopelessness and loneliness… these two can be challenging, how are you handling them?
Im really proud of you for overcoming your desire to self-harm! Its great that you were able to identify that isolating made weekend tough and came up with the idea to journal, Im happy it helped!
Its great to hear mindful meditation helps you calm down on some days, although some days are definitely harder to stay focused enough to do these exercises… It can be really hard not to start thinking about the things that worry us.
I just read the summary of We Are Okay, it sounds really powerful, I might read it when I finish my current read! Its so nice to hear that thanks to identifying with the lead character you can give yourself empathy too through her!
Thanks for checking in and for sharing, take care!
@optimisticNectarine3923
ok I'm so freaking proud of you. A weekend of journaling and overcoming! You rock!
@LinearWaves
1) How are you doing?
Good. I had a hard work weekend, but I'm off today. I get to see my mentor and the horses tonight . The weather is gorgeous! But unfortunately my chore list is super long. And I need to do yoga because I haven't done it the last 3 days whoops
2) How did your weekend go?
Worked most of it. But did get to participate in a huge protest. It was a beautiful experience really
3) Do you believe practicing mindfulness could be helpful in any way for you? Why?
yes. It helps break panic attacks sometimes. When a flashback comes, I can dig my fingers into the grass and force myself to acknowledge that it's not real. When I numb out, I can force myself to be aware of my surroundings and come back into my body
4) Which song/book/movie/art piece has struck you the most? And why?
Ok, I love AHR, Khalid, 21 Pilots, SickoMode,etc. but I gain strength from Burn the Ships by King and Country. The song is about the early American Explorers burning their ships when they landed in America. A sign of commitment. No going back. It goes on to talk to those struggling in addiction and how his wife flushed the pills she was addicted to. For me, it gives me strength to overcome SH urges.
Book: I love so many. And same with movies. But nothing specific to SH
@FigureskatingEquestrian
Its really great to hear that you have nice things planned, especially after having worked hard this weekend. I hope it goes well, and that you can enjoy the weather for me, here its been raining pretty badly on and off since Friday already... I hope you can manage your chore list and get all you need to do done without putting too much stress on your shoulders!
Its amazing that you took part in this huge protest, it definitely must have been quite an experience, and its so very important and amazing that youre helping by participating in this!
It sounds like mindfulness is really helping you and on different aspect, its great to hear that youre able to use it as grounding and also as an un-numbing tool, youre really resourceful and Im proud of you for that!
I really love 21 Pilots, Guns For Hands always moves me so much! I didnt know Burn The Ships by King and Country, the lyrics are really powerful and beautiful, thanks for sharing it! And for checking in and letting us know how youre doing, take care of yourself!
@LinearWaves
1) How are you doing?
I'm doing good!
2) How did your weekend go?
My weekend has been a little harder but I got through!
3) Do you believe practicing mindfulness could be helpful in any way for you? Why?
For a while, I was practicing mindfulness before I went to bed and it really helped with my nightmares, so I think I can try incorporating that again!
4) Which song/book/movie/art piece has struck you the most? And why?
The book All the Bright Places has really struck me the most because it just kind of captured mental illness and suicidal thoughts in their rawest form (***Big trigger warning on that book***)
@24Help1
It
1) How are you doing?
Just fine.
2) How did your weekend go?
Nothing any which way
3) Do you believe practicing mindfulness could be helpful in any way for you? Why?
Yes. It can get me to stop jumping to bad conclusions or dwelling on bad things.
4) Which song/book/movie/art piece has struck you the most? And why?
I don't have any single anything. But I guess songs would be the most influential medium. It was the most accessible. Lots of them have messages that fit with me.
@Flornhope
Hey there Florn, it