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Re: Raising Awareness of BPD - Flipping the Script

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@Gem17 @ healthy distractions are important too. Do you have any creative hobbies? One day at a time, and that's ok. We''re not alone when we're here 💕

 

Hi @HenryX  what are you up to today?

Re: Raising Awareness of BPD - Flipping the Script

@Rosemary4 

 

I used to be very interested in lots of different creative hobbies - cross stitching, colouring and painting. But lately I've lost interest in all of those things and find myself spending most of my time in bed rewatching old TV series. 

 

What sort of things do you guys do to distract yourselves or try to help process big emotions? 

Re: Raising Awareness of BPD - Flipping the Script

Hello @Gem17 , @Rosemary4 , @BPDSurvivor 

 

@Gem17, @Rosemary4 , both of you have talked about your activities, concerns and aspirations and have asked me about mine. Thank you on all points.

 

@Gem17 , the sentiments expressed in your comment are often heard on the forums "it is comforting to hear that you have both found it a bit challenging too as it makes me feel less alone" and often with the rider added, possibly as a statement of shared concern and empathy, "(though I'm sorry you've also found it a bit of a struggle)." We are all here because we share common issues, concerns and stated ways of addressing them, as well as the need to know other people's thoughts about their positions, all of which can be reassuring and supportive of each other.

 

At the moment, I am pushing myself fairly consistently. But, hopefully, not excessively.

 

To give a broader perspective on where I am at now; I am endeavouring to address the maintenance of my interest base, reduce weight, reduce medication {some of which has been driven indirectly by blockages in supply} improve mobility, increase effectiveness and outcomes. By the latter, I mean improve capacity and increase productivity.

 

Like you, @Gem17 I am not much into journaling, however, I do write notes in sporadic dated blocks for direction and record, that I keep in my “Journal” file on the computer. Because I live on my own, I am not particularly worried about anyone else reading my writing in the immediate future. My computer will, I hope, go to my daughter, in which case, she will have some record of my plans, experiences, interests and concerns. She will make of it what she wishes and I hope that it will be of some value to her. If I were to be suddenly taken to hospital, I think that there are other issues that may become apparent, to do with hoarding and lifestyle, that I would be more concerned about than my writing.

 

Toward the end of last year, a simple phrase came to mind, "I don't care". Strange at first glance, but developed, in my recent writing block, looks like this:

"I don't Care

This is a very brief statement that occurred to me during the last few days. Rather than being a statement of deliberate and wanton abrogation of responsibility, I was saying that I do not want to be continually distressed by thinking of what needs to be done or accomplished. In a sense it was a statement of meeting my own needs in a way that does not impose continual stress on me. Also, I am repudiating the self-imposed need to care for others at the expense of my own welfare and peace of mind."

 

It is really a statement, that I had been imposing on myself undue, unnecessary and un-required pressure. What I need to do is to plan a course of action and allow the plan to be fulfilled. To be more at ease and at peace with myself.

As well as the things I need to get done in the normal course of my life, to take the time to "stop and smell the roses", to do some of the things that I enjoy. I nearly wrote, "from which I derive enjoyment", but even in those words is implied an expectation that I should expect to get some return of enjoyment, that may somehow be quantified, instead of simply enjoying something for the spontaneous enjoyable response that is experienced.

Another recent post, written at a time of frustration, may seem to be in contradiction to the above. However, despite our best intentions we sometimes slip of the track or switch ourselves onto another line.

 

These are a few thoughts for now. I hope that they may be of interest and possibly of value. They might generate other thoughts for you that you may also wish to share.

 

With Best Wishes

@HenryX 



 

 

Re: Raising Awareness of BPD - Flipping the Script

Oh @Gem17, I hear you 🙁 having a hard time sure suppresses our creativity.
I like needlework and colouring too but tend to be too aggitated and need more active or standing activities when overwhelmed like you describe. Watching TV & sleeping can be an escape (shelving it 'till later), and sometimes we need that for 2, 3 days... I often default there, but it's not really 'living' much i'm thinking. So I really struggle there with you in this. But for you at the moment, survival mode is ok while your supports are unavailable..

You asked "WHAT THINGS DO I DO TO DISTRACT / PROCESS STRONG EMOTIONS?"
I think maybe there's two aspects to that question, distraction and processing.
DISTRACTION - I have to ask, is it the emotion you want to distract from or the thoughts that trigger the emotion?
PROCESSING 🤔 well, in my experience we need help with this one a lot, but as a rule I've learnt we have to FEEL the emotion to process it 😢 ("go through it to get through it" so to speak), even if in small doses (which I do with mindfulness meditation tapes). Humans hate pain (as a rule) and emotional pain is so intense. I usually run from pain too, avoid, distract from it all the time, and I've figured out why.

Emotions have a habit of bumping into (reminding us) of similar past feelings & their memory, even way back to childhood, and nearly always negative 😟which can trigger us. I hate it. One emotion becomes a mountain - way too much to process at once, overwhelming 😟 and the worst time to try 'process' if we haven't practiced techniques because the brain switches off, goes into fight / flight / freeze / survival mode. Those times we have to manage the NOW, and be gentle with ourselves, even if we do have to escape a little into guilt free tv etc. Other ways I cope at thesevtimes are:
- my Coping Box (containing a lot of the x5 senses grounding tools)
- my healthy distraction list stuck to the bedroom wall (cause brain can't think of them) which says things like: go for a walk, brush the dog, fo gardening, scrub the shower... I tend to need more active mindfulness distractions than sitting when triggered strong emotions.

There's more information on these techniques and discussions here in the forums, if you search the words and coping skills.
It will be good to talk about what youve learned with your psychologist when she gets back from leave, so write it down. Holding your own 'till then is hard work, so do be kind to yourself. 💐

I have a friend visiting from interstate for lunch today, so Betta get ready for that.
🏃🏃😯🏃🏃
@HenryX, catch up later 💙

Re: Raising Awareness of BPD - Flipping the Script

Thank you for sharing @HenryX  and @Rosemary4. It certainly is helpful to have insight from others, like yourselves, who have similar struggles. 

 

I think I still have a bit of work to do because I'm currently mostly spending time in bed watching mindless TV shows day in and day out. While it definitely isn't living, it's also what's getting me through at the moment so I'm ok with that for now! Eventually it would be nice to be able to do more though. 

 

I definitely agree with you around distracting and processing being different things. In regards to distraction I think I was thinking more distraction from the emotion. I'm not very good at identifying triggers yet and there seems to be a lot. Once I'm feeling a big, unwanted emotion I tend to get a bit self destructive so I think I'm more looking for ways to distract myself from being so self destructive once triggered. Maybe processing ties in a bit here. I wonder if I would be less self destructive if I knew how to process better. Perhaps something I should explore with my psychologist!

 

Anyway, thank you again for your kind words and support @Rosemary4. I really appreciate it. I hope you had a lovely lunch with your friend

 

Re: Raising Awareness of BPD - Flipping the Script

Hi my dear friends @Gem17 @Rosemary4 @HenryX ,

 

 Sounds like do much happening at this time. I am so happy you have been able to reach out here. 
@HenryX , I thoroughly enjoy and appreciate your posts. When you mentioned the ‘I don’t care’ it reminds me of when I simply say, ‘meh’. Absolutely resonates and helps put things in perspective.

 

@Rosemary4 , I appreciate your thorough post in sharing strategies when big feelings come up. Makes so much sense! I can definitely see how I have also used each of these strategies throughout my BPD journey/recovery.

 

@Gem17 , following on from your post, I remember when I used mindless activities to get me through. That’s totally okay until you move further in developing more helpful strategies. I actually used many avoidant techniques in order to cope eg. So I wouldn’t get hurt by comments from people, I simply stopped attending social events! It worked at first, but it doesn’t take long to realise it is not sustainable as isolation can be just as distressing. Then SH was another useful strategy as I could disengage with life - once again, how sustainable? Not very. 

Over time, I worked with specific therapists to develop new strategies so that today, I don’t need to go to self harm, nor other less helpful strategies. It seems these things are of the past, and my BPD self has ‘grown up’.

 

 Hope this makes some sort of sense.

 

BPDSurvivor

Re: Raising Awareness of BPD - Flipping the Script

@Gem17 , I can see you have a lot more insight into your current situation than I ever did! This is a bonus and will help you in your recovery.

 

 We’re here for you,

 BPDSurvivor 

Re: Raising Awareness of BPD - Flipping the Script

Thank you for your response @BPDSurvivor 

 

Your words certainly resonated with me as I'm currently using a number of avoidance strategies to get through. There is a part of me that can see these aren't helpful or sustainable, as you mentioned, so I'm hoping I can work this year to replace these with more appropriate, long term strategies. It's just such hard, slow work. But I can see it is important because I know I can't continue 'living' the way I currently am.

 

Thank you again to all of you here who have shared personal stories and insight. I know I've said it before but it really does make me feel so much less alone on what sometimes feels like a scary and overwhelming journey. 

Re: Raising Awareness of BPD - Flipping the Script

Hugs @Gem17 ,

 

As much as the BPD journey can be so difficult, I felt part of me needed to discover things for myself. 

For years, people tried to ‘help’ me by forcing me to attend therapy, take meds, remove all implements capable of causing SH…. Ultimately, I removed myself from all friends/family connections so that I could find my own identity. I know many people say you should always lean on family and friends, but for me it was the opposite.

 

My BPD journey was a journey of discovery. To discover myself as well as others. I felt I needed to face this journey without interference. Instead, I turned my focus on intense MBT psychotherapy. You are right - it was SLOW. Yet the results are lasting.

 

Consider how long it has taken for you to develop the thinking patterns you currently hold (your lifetime). Hence, it takes more than a pill or a week of therapy to change a lifetime’s worth of developed habits.

 

Hope this makes sense. Your journey and my journey are unique. No two people are the same.

 

Embrace the journey. Learn from it. If you fall it’s okay. Just hold on.

 

Despite the challenges, I would NOT exchange my BPD journey for anything. I’ve learnt to appreciate life and people so much more. It has made me a better person.

 

Hugs, BPDSurvivor 

Re: Raising Awareness of BPD - Flipping the Script

Ooooooo @Gem17 @Rosemary4 @Judi9877 @HenryX 

 

I had a BPD moment today. I exploded at my sister over absolutely nothing. As soon as I let loose, I realised my mistake because I did it in front of my nieces and nephew. I felt so horrible. 

I’m sharing this because I want you all to know that although I’ve overcome so many BPD-related challenges, I am in no way perfect. I occasionally slip into my old habits.

 

Difference being, I now understand enough to be able to reflect on my unhelpful behaviours and work towards managing any future occurrences. I’m continually learning and moving forward.

 

Thank you for listening,

BPDSurvivor