Seeing no way out **SH Trigger**

[Suzi]

Have you tried things like mindfulness? Meditation? T'ai Chi?

[Butterfly]

Yeah I do a lot of mindfulness, Meditation, Affirmations etc. xx

[Suzi]

Are you able to use those when you start overthinking/panicking etc?

[Butterfly]

I try. It's not always possible but especially when overthinking I put on some Meditation to switch off the thoughts.xx

[Suzi]

That's really good, what about using breathing or grounding exercises?

[Butterfly]

These are a bit more difficult. When I'm overthinking a lot or feeling bad, I feel like breathing becomes more difficult and like I'm breathing through a blanket. I feel like I rarely can breathe freely because there always is something that's covering me.

[Suzi]

Then that might be a good place to start...

[Strugglingmum]

I found with breathing techniques that its important to practice them when you are feeling ok. It means they are more effective and easier to use when you really need them.
They become like second nature so that you dont need to think about doing it.
Also, if you find yourself getting a bit worked up or anxious, one big breath can really help to reset your brain.
Take a huge breath in and just blow it out long and hard.
It's amazing how much it can help to slow down your thoughts a bit to give you a chance to capture them and hit the pause button.

[Butterfly]

That's something my therapist said too. We had practiced breathing techniques in our first session too. I was told to put my hand on my chest and "feel" how I inhale and exhale. It's definitely a good way of calming down. It was an okay day today but I always feel scared of saying this because of fearing that things will downhill again.

[Suzi]

But that's how things can be with or without a mh condition lovely...Sometimes it's best to enjoy the good days..... Without automatically assuming it's going to all come crashing down...