Monday, October 28, 2013

Music of the Month - October

Hope of Morning by Icon For Hire has been selected as our new music feature of the month!
Send us comments, messages, or submissions as to what you think should be the music feature for next month!
Lyrics:
My mind's a kaleidoscope, it thinks too fast
Blurs all the colors 'til I can't see past
The last mistake, the choice I made
Staring in the mirror with myself to blame
Sometimes I'm afraid of the thoughts inside
Nowhere to hide inside my mind
I'm scared that you'll compare and I'll look a lifetime past repair
I second guess myself to death, I re-solicit every step
What if my words are meaningless? What if my heart's misleading this?
I try to capture every moment as it comes to me
Bottle up the memories and let them keep me company

When the hope of morning starts to fade in me
I don't dare let darkness have its way with me
And the hope of morning makes me worth the fight
I will not be giving in tonight

When I'm old and grey, or thirty, or whatever happens first,
I'll need you to reassure me I didn't waste a verse
Or worse, what if my life's work is reduced to just myself
Like never let you get a word in, while I dissect my mental health
Or lack thereof, whatever, there's too many things to track
I really can't remember if I'm insane or insomniac
Now days, all the kids want crazy, wanna diagnose themselves
Trade up made up epidemics, pass around prescription pills
But my disorder can't be cured by a bottle, blade, or dose
Self-disgust and selfishness tend to hold me awfully close
But I don't wanna let you see that, I don't want my friends to know
Self-disgust and selfishness take me everywhere I go

When the hope of morning starts to fade in me
I don't dare let darkness have its way with me
And the hope of morning makes me worth the fight
I will not be giving in tonight

Try as I might to keep it together
Why is recovery taking forever
Fool the whole world, just until I get better
I'm terrified I'll be faking forever
On and on I wonder what went wrong inside my head
I don't have to have the answers, but tonight I wish I did
All the pain I can't explain away won't fade
All the the secrets silenced by the shame
Don't make me say it [x7]

When the hope of morning starts to fade in me
I don't dare let darkness have its way with me
And the hope of morning makes me worth the fight
I will not be giving in tonight

Thursday, October 24, 2013

Self-Soothing Boxes

Something I've found to help me get through a rough emotional time is a self-soothing box.
"What is that?" You may be asking yourself. Well, we'll explain it right now (with example pics)!

These boxes appeal to the 5 senses: sight, hearing, taste, touch, and smell.
Whenever you are feeling sad, angry, anxious, (anything!) you can go to your self-soothing box and mindfully pick up each thing that appeals to each sense. Being mindful about these objects can help get your mind off of the pain you may be feeling, and help you focus your attention on what the object looks, tastes, smells, sounds, or feels like.

Being mindful is a step that is very helpful in regulating your emotions. Mindfulness is throwing your whole self into the situation that you are experiencing in a nonjudgmental way.  You must focus your attention to the one thing you are doing and get rid of all thoughts about the past or future: stay focused on the present moment that you are in. Do not let your mind wander, this is an important factor when using mindfulness.
When you are mindful with your self-soothing box it really helps to calm you down and make you feel better.

Creating Your Very Own Self-Soothing Box

1. First off, you'll need a box. Anything will do: a shoebox, an old cardboard box, you can even make your own box if you have the supplies. I even went all out and created an entire room dedicated to self-soothing. If you have the resources to do so, I highly recommend doing it.
2. Decorate your box in your favorite colors and using some of your favorite pictures and stickers. Keep the decorations positive and uplifting! This will also play a part in the visual sense you are appealing to.
3. Gather objects that appeal to your senses. Some examples would be:
  • Sight: pictures of your favorite memories or animals, some scenes that you think are beautiful, happy pictures that you've drawn, pictures that motivate you.
  • Hearing: a harmonica, a music box, a child's toy that makes music, an old iPod or music device filled with nothing but peaceful music.
  • Touch: your favorite stuffed animal, or a small one bought at the dollar store, some cool textured yarn or some sandpaper
  • Taste: your favorite hard candy, some flavored lip gloss
  • Smell: scented candles, perfumes, lotions, reed diffusers, even scented deodorants
  4. Put all the objects you gathered into your box and whenever you need it, pull it out and use it! You'll be surprised by how much it really helps.

Here is a box that is for sale at Recovery Through Poetry's official website!