Vacation Mode: Loading..

We are fixing to leave for our beach trip this weekend. I cannot wait! We go every year on Thanksgiving week because 1. I hate cooking and 2. My husband and I get time off during this week and we don’t have to use vacation time!

A quick check in-I had a rough day yesterday. I resorted to old coping habits to get through the day. So today I decided I was done with my pity party and wanted to remind myself of some ideas of how I could be encouraged. Maybe this can help you too!

1. I looked at my old postings on this forum and reread the advice that was given to me. Y’all I have come a long way since I started the SEP! Just seeing that was encouraging! I love that I have this forum to look back at where I started. I was so hopeless when I started and this community was exactly what I needed!
   
   
2. I signed up for the Curable app. I need something that would remind me to check in with myself each day in this season of life. I also had a trial of it before and I liked their “panic button” when you are dealing with some rough days. (It would have helped yesterday!) I liked their meditations and while YouTube and Insight Timer worked, I just wanted something different right now. I also wanted to attend their virtual classes from TMS therapists. The one I took today was phenomenal!
   
   
3. Exercise has been a game changer for me. It’s a time where I can just focus on what I am doing (running/walking) and not be worried about anything. It has helped clear my mind and helped get any extra energy out. Now, I’ve had to watch myself and not be a perfectionist. I can’t go every day due to kids schedules and the fact that it gets dark so early but I can’t let that get me down. As long as I do about 3 days a week, then I’m doing good.
   
   
4. Guided meditations have helped me keep my mind on track. If I just meditate in silence, then my mind goes everywhere. I will attempt it down the road, but for now these guided meditations have helped me slow down and focus on the present. I carve out about 5-10 minutes each morning to do this before I leave for work.

Last year at this time, I was headed to our vacation and had no clue about TMS. I remember freaking out that I would be in pain at the beach. And I really wasn’t. The change of scenery was nice and being on my own time probably helped take my stress levels down. And there is just something about the ocean that is calming. When I came back home, the pain came back and to me, it just didn’t make sense. I am so thankful for this community and how a year later I can look at the upcoming beach vacation and not stress about it too much. (I hate packing-so that is a stress for me!) I have tools to use now! Anyways, I hope this list helps if anyone is having a rough day!

 

Great post, @Joulegirl!

I had the Curable app at one time and hadn't remembered about a 'panic button' facility, which sounds really good; I did a search about it on perplexity.ai as I was curious and it described it as follows:

"The "curable panic button" is a feature within the Curable app, which is designed to help users manage chronic pain and anxiety. When users experience intense pain or high anxiety, they can press the panic button—represented by a lightning bolt icon—which guides them through deep breathing exercises and offers quick techniques for calming down. These techniques include pep talks, visualization, and panic-busting audio designed to soothe the nervous system during a panic attack or pain flare-up. The panic button aims to send reassuring messages of safety to the brain, helping to lower the fear-pain cycle and alleviate physical sensations by calming the amygdala and nervous system."

Nice one!

Have a wonderful time on your beach trip!

 

Have a great vacation!!

 

@Joulegirl
It’s great you could look back and see how far you’ve come! Not all victories here are physical. A lot of them are psychological. You’re doing so good! I am also doing Curable now and like it so much. It’s based on Alan Gordon’s Pain Reprocessing Therapy. And the panic button is fantastic. You really feel supported with that app. What a great idea to escape to the beach for Thanksgiving. I’ve always wanted to do that. I hope you have a fabulous time!