#Coping mechanism

[ireallyneedaintrestinglife]

This shit helped me so much when I was going on about not taking my medicine because my pain or ailment wasn't 'as bad' as someone else's.

I would stop myself and think 'Do I accuse people who used glasses for slight vision problems less valid for using an aid just because it isn't as bad as someone who is more heavily blind?'

Would I find my excuse reasonable if I applied it to someone I cared about? If the answer was no then the excuse isn't good enough for me either.

Don't underestimate the power of treating yourself like you would anyone else. We are often far kinder to others than we are ourselves.

Since I'm therapist-posting recently:

Legitimately self-compassion is the biggest mental health life hack of all time. I'm NOT talking about self-esteem. You do NOT have to like yourself one bit. You don't have to believe that you're a good person who deserves good things. You just have to believe that you're a person who deserves the things all people deserve.

You can't get from "I'm the Worst" to "I'm a worthy and lovable person" without passing through "I'm just a regular fuckup like everybody else."

Try it on. If you're really addicted to being mean to yourself, you can start by framing it as I'm Not Special. Embrace being a regular fuckup like everybody else.

[bonnie-the-mutt]

essa adoption game ! 🐾🦮

I hope u and ur new buddy have sm fun together !!

will make another one with non conventional animals/plushies later !!! got very excited cus I <3 doggies

[bl-mitchum]

I have healthy coping mechanisms. For example, the last boss to treat me like crap got her first name stolen to be the name of the antagonist of my WIP. Thanks, Margaret.

[classycookiexo]

I know I’m not the only one who does this, the show must go on

[agere-guide]

How to regress (AGERE)?

🧸 1. Create a Safe Space

Find a private, quiet, and comfortable place.

Use soft lighting, cozy blankets, and items that feel safe.

If you have a caregiver (CG), let them know you're regressing. (If possible! some littles may be nonverbal <3)

🎨 2. Gather Comfort Items (Optional but Helpful)

Stuffies/plushies

Blankets or pacifiers

Sippy cups or bottles

Snacks (like applesauce, juice boxes, goldfish crackers)

Toys, coloring books, or sensory items

🎧 3. Choose Comforting Activities

Watch cartoons or kids’ movies

Color or play with toys

Listen to lullabies or soft music

Nap or cuddle with a stuffed animal

Use kids' apps or games

Talk in a childlike voice if it helps

🫧 4. Let Go of Adult Worries

Try to mentally "put away" responsibilities

Use affirmations like: "I am safe." "I don’t have to worry right now." "It’s okay to be small."

🛑 5. Set Limits

Set a timer if you have things to do later

Avoid regressing in unsafe or inappropriate environments

Practice self-care after regressing — drink water, reflect gently, and ease back into your usual mindset

Optional: Journaling or Memory Triggers

Some find it helpful to keep a regression journal or make a playlist of comforting songs, shows, or smells that help trigger the regressed mindset.

⚠️ Important Notes

Please keep an eye on yourself; keep safe when regressing.

Remind yourself: “It’s okay to need comfort.” There’s no shame in wanting to feel little or cared for.

You don’t have to “act like a child” — regression is about your internal experience, not outward behavior.

Everyone's regression looks different; there is no wrong or right way to regress.

[animentality]

[ageremoji]

Cozy covers emoji!

Guys, it’s getting cold! Make sure you start bundling up and keeping warm! Maybe make yourself some hot chocolate or tea, and if you’re too little have your caregivers help!

[lulusbinky]

♡ how to handle vent regression༅

i hope this is helpful to someone in some way!༅ 🐾

⊹for littles⊹

♡ gentle grounding ──୨ৎ── hug a plushie, sip something warm, play with a soft texture, get a weighted blankie, or listen to quiet sounds to soothe yourself! a popular method is the 5-4-3-2-1 grounding method too! you name 5 things you see, 4 things you feel, 3 things you hear, 2 things you smell, and 1 thing you taste! you can also change it like just focusing on 5 things you can touch, or count how many soft things you can see, or start recalling your stuffies names, etc!༅

✂ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

♡ let yourself feel without guilt ──୨ৎ── if emotions are heavy, allow yourself to feel them!! it’s okay to have these feelings!! don't feel guilt, you have no reason to! you aren’t bad for struggling, and the only time it becomes harmful is if they lead to hurting yourself or others but even then, that doesn’t make you a bad person!༅

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♡ distractions ──୨ৎ── if allowing yourself to feel the heavy feelings isn't something you want or think is best, use fidgets, squish toys, color, or play with textures! you can play songs and sounds too! maybe even put a cartoon on and try to calm down with a little snack!༅

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⊹for caregivers⊹

♡ reassurance ──୨ৎ── simple phrases like “you’re safe/okay,” “i've got you,” "i understand," and loving nicknames can be a very biggg help!!༅

✂ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

♡ safe space ──୨ৎ── be patient with them!! and turn on soft lighting, get a warm blankie, get little items nearby!! make the space feel safe! and if they feel okay with it, hugs!!༅

✂ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

♡ assistance ──୨ৎ── if loud noises, sensory issues, etc. ar bothering them, help ground them and help get them what they need!༅

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♡ encouragement ──୨ৎ── encourage them to do things you know will help!! like watching a cartoon, counting, etc. and just be encouraging in any way you can!༅

[ancientdreamkdj]

I believe in love because they exist (points at 100% fictional couple)

[borderline-sanity]

GRWM as I ✨Wake Up with a Panic Attack✨

** None of this is medical advice, and is just a system I’ve worked on for myself. Everybody is different, everyone is in different circumstances.**

When it comes to the fight or flight instinct during panic attacks, I’m 100% a flight person.

I’ve dealt with panic attacks since high school and have been diagnosed with panic disorder. In high school I lived in constant fear of having an attack, which caused the attacks. It was all very cyclical. I have them less often now, but they still happen from time to time.

My go to method is to mix comforting and uncomfortable sensations and to overstimulate myself. I’ve tried deep breathing and relaxing music and the things that should logically help. But they always made me feel worse because I’m acknowledging the panic in such a head on fashion. I try to ground and overstimulate as many senses as I can, so I don’t have the energy or space to feel the panic anymore.

The initial terror, it’s going to happen. How fast you can pivot depends on the severity of the panic.

I tell myself I’m an expert in panic attack management. I have over 12 years of experience in the field and have worked tirelessly to perfect my methods. I have to convince myself I’m a pro at this, and have a 100% success rate of not imploding from anxiety. I narrate what I’m going to do and why it helps me specifically, basically what I’m doing here.

—-

My first stop is consistently my bathroom. I go through my bin of old lotions and pick a scent I have specially set aside for panic attacks. I use something that’s way too overpowering, but having something that smells bad to you is also an option. Sometimes I’ll use two different smells. The goal is to have a scent to ground you.

When I have a panic attack, my body fails at temperature regulation. Typically my feet are cold and clammy. So, I like to run some hot water in the tub and just stand in it for awhile. As I’m standing there, I apply whatever lotion or perfume I grabbed. Once my feet are warmed up, I get out of the tub and only sorta dry my feet. Then I put socks on my damp feet. Why? Because I hate the way it feels. And that harmless discomfort is going to distract me as I make my way to the next room.

I pick up a hoodie from the closet. Since I don’t know which way my temperature is going to flux, it’s nice to have on hand. I also have a big comfy shawl I use only during panic attacks.

I have to go down stairs to get to my kitchen. I take them really slow, especially with the damp sock situation. If I’m feeling too weak, I’ll just sit down and scoot down them. My instinct is flight, so staying in one room too long is no good. I usually feel safer being on the ground floor.

—-

Things might get messy in the kitchen, but that’s for future you to deal with. I used to keep a fresh lemon in the house at all times, but have moved away from that, opting for lemon juice. You can either bite into a lemon, or swish some lemon juice in your mouth and spit it out. A benefit of a fresh lemon is that it’s more messy. You’ll have lemon juice on your face and hands and that stickiness, at least for me, is an awful sensation.

You’re going to chase the lemon down with something else. I like to grab sour candy, like Warheads. But something like Pop Rocks also works. Picking an opposite flavor, like pudding or beef jerky is an option. You’re just trying to overload your tastebuds by making another harmless, but powerful distraction.

Alternatively, this step can be done when you’re in the bathroom. Swishing mouth wash and following it up with something sour is miserable. The face I make in the mirror is ridiculous and sometimes that’s enough to help soothe me.

—-

Like I said, I’m a flight person. So the next steps I either do pacing the house or on a treadmill. It just depends how steady my legs are feeling.

I grab my headphones, connected to my phone, and my tablet. I put the headphones on one ear and play music. The music is going to change every time. Sometimes you want something soothing, sometimes you want something loud. Sometimes you want music you love, sometimes you want music you hate. Having different playlists prepped helps you figure out what you’re in the mood for. I think one hit wonders are also a great option. There’s a familiarity and nostalgia that just hits the spot sometimes.

There are a few options for the tablet. You can put on a movie or tv show, and listen with your un-headphoned ear. I also like doing crossword puzzles or logic puzzles. It usually goes poorly, but I get so wrapped up in it. I’ve also found ‘Simon Says’ videos and follow those. Anything challenging and low stakes works here.

And this is where things usually begin to ease up. If my legs are too wobbly, I’ll just lie on the floor. Sometimes I go back to the lemon juice / sour candy. But eventually, my body is just exhausted and overstimulated. And there’s no more room for panic.

Once I feel myself winding down, I’ll get an electrolyte heavy drink. My go to is Pedialyte Zero Sugar packets but it doesn’t really matter what you use. I’ll have something light to eat if I feel up to it, usually just crackers.

When the panic has finally eases up and I feel safe again, I’m usually left exhausted. I fall asleep wherever I land, usually on the floor because it just feels nice and sturdy. When I wake up, I take care of any messes I left behind. And I drink more water.

—-

Important Notes and Additional Tactics:

Drink lots of water. Just have water dead drops everywhere.

Make it a point to keep yourself stocked up on supplies. Future you needs to restock supplies and put things back for next time.

Fidget toys are great and should also be in every room if possible. I like to use different ones depending on which room I’m in, just to keep up variety.

Ice cubes under the armpits or on the back of the neck are great. I guess anywhere works, I just find the cold distracting. As they melt, I’m left with water on my clothes. Similar to the damp socks, I hate this feeling.

My plant misting bottle stays in the kitchen and I’ll use it to spray my face or arms. Having glasses makes this more annoying, which is the goal.

I personally like to turn on as many lights as I can, but I understand this isn’t always possible.

Stepping outside can be helpful, just be mindful about it.

Reach out to people if that’s an option and you’re comfortable with it.

Walk through your routine when you aren’t in the middle of a panic attack. Developing this type of muscle memory helps you to be familiar and prepared. Remember, you’re the expert in panic attacks.

Take time to reflect on things. The day after a panic attack, I find a quiet place. I think back to everything I was feeling and who I was during the panic attack. And I talk to that past version of me and comfort her. Sometimes I find it easier to write it all out.

—-

I typed this while experiencing a panic attack. Usually I just narrate these things to myself. Recently, my older brother has started having attacks similar to mine. My hope is that sharing what I do to get myself through a panic attack will help at least one person. It is truly one of the most defeating and vulnerable experiences. I feel like I’ve lost so much time to my anxiety, I’d like to think I can help someone avoid the same struggles my younger self dealt with.

**None of this is medical advice, and is just a system I’ve worked on for myself. Everybody is different, everyone is in different circumstances.

[belovedapollo]

February 1st 🖋️ reblog is ok, don’t repost/use

[anim-ttrpgs]

Exerpt from the Patreon-only September 5th Eureka: Investigative Urban Fantasy rulebook version! Art by team artist @chaospyromancy! If you want to get a less updated version of the rulebook for free right now, the August 1st version is on itch.io!

[vroomvroomwee]

Do you want to comfort your fav fictional character because you love them and don't want them to be alone or do you want to do it because you see yourself in them and you project onto them and comforting them is the only way you can comfort yourself since you've always had to manage and take care of your own feelings and had to suffer alone and be the only one there for yourself? Hmm?

[burntoutuserboxes]

[This user selfships as a coping mechanism.]

[aspdzai]

I ❤️ healthy and interesting coping mechanisms