Where is your safe space?

[Guest_1643]

Do you have a happy place? A place where you can exhale, and feel okay, if just for a moment?

Is it your backyard, or a shed you work in? Is it at the gym? Do u breathe a sigh of relief when you close the door to your therapists office, knowing you can talk about ur life without inhibition?

When I was 22 I became a gym-junkie. I went to a gym that was mostly older people and wasn't about body-pride but was truly about being fit and strong. I used to love going there, zoning out, and reading magazines or watching music videos on the gym tvs. I think it was important to have a phsyical place that I felt welcomed and okay. The gym trainers all knew me and told me I was doing great at my regimen... it was a warm place to go and I went often. It was safe.

What's ur fave happy space?

[ypla]

My safe place is the beach. Sure, I need to walk 7000 steps each way to get there but this place unwinds me with the sound of waves and winds. It reminds of me the fact that it must've taken these waves and winds millions of years to form this beach and now I'm part of it by deforming the sand. It reminds me of how small I'm in the scale of the universe but also gives me a purpose. A purpose that how insignificant your actions may be, one day it will have a butterfly effect in your life. A change never happens at once. It takes time and courage. I remind this to myself everyday by walking to the beach.

[Guest_1643]

hi ypla

ur writing is so descriptive

the beach sounds like a place that transports you, and gives you calm. It sounds really magical.
Lots of water and beach coming up here as healing for ppl. Makes me remember the simple things that ground us.

I do not like the area I live in. It's not my kind of place. Today I went a few suburbs out for a walk and I felt safer. I am hypervigilant and jumpy usually, feeling judged and not good enough whenever I go out of my house, so I often stay in. I notice certain areas I feel more comfortable, at peace, and not judged.

I did a load of washing in the laudromat and went for a walk around the block while I waited. it was peaceful and safe to be far from home, anonymous, a person on the street..

[Doolhof]

I need to practise some of my visualisation and meditation at work this coming weekend as I nearly quit my job yesterday it was so horrible.

My safe place at work was not in a clam place in my mind as I could not find it amongst the chaos and changing of rules, the undermining and rudeness.

The bathroom was my quiet place at work. I just took deep breathes and felt safe. Only I couldn't stay there! Need to work on calming my mind and finding a safe place at my work station.

[Guest_1643]

hi Dools

using the bathroom to stay safe... i totally relate. I had a chair at work I sat on when I had a rush of panic... you are trying to get to that calm place in tough circumstances. I love the meditation and visualisation ideas... what you can see inside your mind is yours to keep...

[geoff]

Hello Mark, Happy Birthday for yesterday and really hope you had a great day, doesn't it get harder each year to blow out another candle.

Take care.

Geoff.

[Guest_1643]

Hi Mark

i can relate 100 percent to checking the locks i do that too and sometimes feel like the strongest walls couldn't protect me. i am very sensitive about privacy and confidentiality because I grew up without any. And later had partners who also caused harm.

I haven't got the NDIS yet but I have a psychiatrist now who knows how to apply and wants to do it throughly and carefully. He said if we rush it we will get rejected so we need to research and work on it slowly and then he thinks I will get it.
Thats good for me... I was suicidal last year and asked the public hospital about it and they said it's not for me... i don't need it. I just accepted it. I shouldn't have. That was just one persons opinion beacuse they didn't want to help.

My safe place over last year has been the hospital. I liked the confidentiality and privacy there, and have been three times over the last 1.5 years. It's a soothing space for me. I also quite like and find soothing getting facials. I tune out and relax and feel safe. I hate massages though... guess that could be common and i'm not the only one.

[Matchy69]

Hi Sleepy this house is more secure then my last but still I worry and get very nervous with noises.
The NDIS is really tricky to get.Its like they don't want anyone to have it but once you get it it is so worth the effort.We had to try a couple of times as the phychiatrist had ticked the wrong box.Just keep at it sleepy and hopefully you get it.
I can understand the hospital being a safe place I have been in both the mental and the normal wards over the last few years for various medical reasons and find it safe as well as having people looking after me when I am struggling.My last stay was only over a week ago and hated coming home having to look after my self.Last night I had an accident when the power went out when I got up to go to the toilet and couldn't see and I fell over and been in pain from that now.
Take care,
Mark.

[Guest_1643]

Hi Mark,
You're so right and thank u for understanding - the NDIS is tricky and makes you feel like they don't want u to get it.
My psychiatrist has given me confidence that he can help me with it.

He also has admitting rights to a hospital. I have to get a tooth extracted in a week and am scared about it because I don't feel up to it all - it's outside my comfort zone. He said he will book me in to the hopsital for one week after my extraction.

I thought that was a great idea. I've never heard of that, and felt no one would take me seriously because a tooth extraction sounds routine and not a big deal. But it is a big deal for me.

hope u are feeling okay today. Are u in pain?

[Matchy69]

Hi sleepy I can understand your anxiety about have a tooth extracted.I have had a few removed now never pleasant.
I have been taking some pain relief the doctor prescribed.Laat night's fall didn't help I got confused where I was and thought I was in my old house even though I have been here almost 4 years.Do you ever wake up thinking you are somewhere else?

[Guest_1643]

hi Mark i absolutely do - i get confused where i am and also what day it is pretty often. that sounds scary but with the painkilllers i hope it will get a bit better.. sounds like u have a lot to deal with at the moment an i can understand the pain just adds this other layer and is so frustrating.