NaBloPoMo Dec 2014 Day 7/100 Things We Have Or Want To Add To Our Self-Care Toolbox: 004. Reiki

Sunday, Dec 7th, 2014: Free Write: 100 Things - Self-Care Toolbox: Reiki

For the past 4 years we've been involved with reiki. Reiki (pronounced ray-key) is a healing approach from Japan that promotes the relaxation response and brings the mind and body into its natural balance. Hand placements correspond to the body's energy centers or chakras which parallel the endocrine system.

For us, Reiki is a spiritual practice, a healing practice, and a life practice.

The Reiki precepts are an important part of our spiritual practice:

Just for today, I will be free of worry.
Just for today I will be free of anger.
Just for today I will live the attitude of gratitude.
Just for today I will do my work honestly.
Just for today I will treat all beings with kindness.

The healing practice of reiki has brought so much to me. I am more comfortable talking to people. I'm more grounded in the body (we weren't hurt as kids really, but we grew up with a story that implied our body was breakable because it was born 7 weeks premature). I'm more open to touch in general.

NaBloPoMo Dec 2014 Day 6/100 Things We Have Or Want To Add To Our Self-Care Toolbox: 003. Boston University Center for Psychiatric Rehabilitation Recovery Education Program

Saturday, Dec 6th, 2014: Free Write: 100 Things - Self-Care Toolbox: Boston University Center for Psychiatric Rehabilitation's Recovery Education Program

One of the things I'm pretty open about online (and off) is that I have mental health challenges. I think probably one of the most telling parts of my self-care toolbox is that I probably wouldn't have one in-use if it wasn't for the Boston University Center for Psychiatric Rehabilitation's Recovery Education Program. I also wouldn't be nearly as hopeful as I am now.

Basically, it's a very little known (but very influential) adult education program for people with mental health challenges. The Center for Psychiatric Rehabilitation was founded as the research base for the Psychiatric Rehabilitation Movement, which stemmed out of the ex-patient movement that got a lot of consumer-operated service groups out in to the open. Members with mental health challenges who apply and get accepted are able to enroll in classes to gain wellness tools and social opportunities.

I am always a bit regretful that I didn't know about this until 2011, since it was something I was looking for when I re-started therapy in college. They don't advertise it much to consumers, but word of mouth gets around from students and the few treatment teams that hear about it from their clients. 

It's a really wonderful place though. I have learned so many different tools to support my recovery here and how to keep them accessible. I sometimes liken my journey to this program as kind of like how Neville realized how much he could do in Dumbledore's Army when he was given the right teachers at the right time.

100 Things We Have Or Want To Add To Our Self-Care Toolbox: 002. Reflexology

100 things we have or want to add to our self-care toolbox (AKA 100 Coping With Life Tools)

002. Reflexology

Ok, disclaimer here: I AM NOT A DOCTOR nor A PROFESSIONAL and if you have a major health issue, you should consult with a doctor, first before using reflexology.

Some major health issues -- for example: CFS/Fibro, diabetes, and any conditions being treated with blood thinners, may require you to be VERY gentle especially when dealing with areas that are trigger points. 

Reflexology is a type of body work using the reflex points on the hands and feet that involves thumbwalking. It relates to zone therapy and with the right practitioners it can be very nice and relaxing. 

I learned this through a class through BU's Center for Psychiatric Rehabilitation's Recovery Center's Recovery Education Program. 

It's ideal if you can soak your hands or feet in epsom salts beforehand (or an exfoliating foot or hand scrub). Just no lotions - slippery feet and hands don't work very well with reflexology. I usually do this first thing in the morning after my shower. 

When you finish, drink lots of water and if you want you can put lotion on your feet/hands.

100 Things We Have Or Want To Add To Our Self-Care Toolbox: 001. Paper Chain Diary

 100 things we have or want to add to our self-care toolbox
(AKA 100 Coping With Life Tools)

001. Paper Chain Diary

This is actually a mix of a couple tools that we found works wonders together and it is also one toolbox item that doesn't require many spoons. We can do this in about a minute before bed and it's wonderful.

It's a heavily modified version of The Paper Chain Project (which is usually used for recovery from self-destructive habits)

Our version is mostly for tracking our mindset mostly and as a record of days. And we've only just started doing one of these outworld. :) I'd like to get back into doing this, but i need more colored paper again.

color chain links are for good days
white chains are for bad days

And on the link, we write at least one of the following -
1. Something we want to congratulate ourselves on from that day
2. Something we're grateful for from that day
3. Something we want to work on the next day