Self-care strategies for when things get tough

SELF-CARE

Taking care of YOURSELF is one of the best preventative measures for dealing with stressful situations. It also has a remarkable affect on your overall health.  The better you are, the better you are able to process and handle stress...sometimes you have no control over what is happening, but if you are able to find ways to feel good, it can really help.

Being healthy means a number of things, but the basics include: eating well, sleeping well, being active, planning/scheduling, communicating your thoughts and feelings, if possible; it's about making healthy choices.

 By doing these things, you can help reduce the stress and anxiety in your life and therefore build resilience (strength) when dealing with stressful events.

Here is a little acronym to help win the battle:

ACCEPTS

ACTIVITIES- Engage in hobbies; do cleaning; go to events; call or visit a friend; play computer games; go walking; work; exercise; go out for a meal; garden; do a puzzle; knit...

CONTRIBUTE- Contribute to something; volunteer; give something to someone else; make something nice for someone else; do a surprising, thoughtful thing!

COMPARE- Compare yourself to people coping the same as you or less well than you...Compare yourself to those less fortunate...watch soap operas; watch disasters or others suffering.

EMOTIONS- Read emotional books or stories; listen to emotional music; read joke books; watch comedies, chick flicks, family videos; go to a store and read sappy cards.

PUSHING AWAY- Push the situation away by leaving for a while. Leave the situation, mentally.  Build an imaginary wall between you and the situation.

THOUGHTS- Count to 10, count colours in a painting or tree, window, anything...watch tv, read.

SENSATIONS- Hold ice in your hand; squeeze a rubber ball really hard; stand under a very hard and hot shower; listen to loud music; sex; put a rubber band on your wrist; let go...


Contact me for personal counselling at http://www.rebeccajscott.ca