Trauma Support Check-in February 15th - 18th
Hello everyone, how are you doing this fine week? feel free to share below, or hang out with us in spirit :)
1. What are your comfort items? A stuffed animal, a cool rock, a blanket... Something that comforts you
2. Do you feel like you have a support system? People you can count on?
3. If you don't have a support system, how can you build one? Let me know if you want help brainstorming on this one :)
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@WriteToHeal42
1. Comfort items huh? Maybe the closest thing would be my bokken and shinai for Kendo practice (To clarify, my wooden and bamboo swords; Kendo is Japanese fencing). I feel like being truly comfortable actually makes me nervous anymore. I tend to feel most comfortable when I'm actively doing things, and when I was taking a Kendo class, I was told to think of fighting stance as "home". I feel like there's a lot of truth to that lesson for me.
2-3. Hm. I have an amazing support system. Maybe more than most people. Ive kept a lot of good close friends since all the way back in kindergarten. Yet... I feel like I can only rely on them for certain things. And most people around me are honestly pretty busy. I am too. For others, I will be the person that they can tell absolutely anything to without actual judgment. The more of their own honest picture, with all the darkness and weirdness, that someone shows me, the more I can connect with them... Even if there's issues there that need to be addressed somehow. I'd help address them from an impartial standpoint. But do I trust anyone else like that? There are certain things that I've tried to share just to realize that it's hard to even make someone understand them. And then there are things I haven't been able to share at all... Not my closest family and friends, not therapists, not strangers. Sometimes, not even myself... I forget them on such a level that when I think on them next, I feel like I'm just finding out about them from a fully different perspective. I don't know what to do about it all-in-all. I've just gotten to really learn how to empower myself.
Hi @Torean,
Those sound like really cool comfort items! Practicing an art like that can be really empowering.
I'm glad to hear you have an amazing support system :) It sounds like you're also a good friend to your friends. It can be hard to open up to others even when we've known them for a long time, and especially about topics we hide even from ourselves - I can relate to that.
Could use brainstorm
Hi @DarkGalaxy55555, Good to see you :)
So, what are some ways we can build a support system? We need reliable people we can depend on, right?
You can seek support from friends and family that you know you can trust, you can open up to members and listeners here on 7cups, you can seek out therapy if that's an option available for you. I've found support from all these areas myself, though it took a long time for me to open up because I was so used to other people leaving soon after I opened up.
What kind of support do you need? If you feel comfortable sharing (if not you can ignore this question)
I go to therapy. I don't have anyone in my personal life I could talk to. I'm on here constantly. I wish there was somewhere medical people could chat but that's not a thing. So I go in the group chats and feel like the only paramedic on earth who is lame enough to have no one who understands to talk to.
Hi @DarkGalaxy55555,
I think you're really brave for being a paramedic. Thank you for doing what you do ❤️ I'm glad to hear you have therapy, and I'm sorry to hear you have no one in your personal life you can talk to right now.
Not having anyone who understands to talk too isn't lame, it just means you need support you don't have yet. If it helps, you can talk to me - I might not understand everything you're going through, but I'm willing to listen and try my best to support you.
I went looking online, and this site looks like it could have resources for you, I hope it helps
https://nami.org/Your-Journey/Frontline-Professionals/Health-Care-Professionals
1. What are your comfort items? A stuffed animal, a cool rock, a blanket... Something that comforts you
A blanket
2. Do you feel like you have a support system? People you can count on?
No
3. If you don't have a support system, how can you build one? Let me know if you want help brainstorming on this one :)
I don't know
Hi @DinaElwy, welcome :)
I like using blankets as comfort items too. I'm sorry to hear you feel like you have no support system, that can feel really unsafe. Building a support system involves seeking support from people you can count on, and it takes time to build. It could be from family, friends, therapists and doctors, listeners an members here on 7cups... Anyone you know you can rely on.
Comfort items - stuffie, phone, medallion necklace.
Support system. Yes friends and now staff at the homeless shelter.
Build support system. Join groups, open up, asset boundaries, express wants and needs assertively and respectfully.
Hi @DichotomousDetia, thanks for sharing
Those sound like cool comfort items :)
I'm glad to hear you're getting a support system in place now. Those are good ideas about building support systems.
