Just a heads up, this is a super long post!
CW // anxiety / panic attacks / dissociation
I made a panic box and wanted to share!
My anxiety has been so bad recently to the point I'm having panic attacks and bad dissociation daily and so I've spent the day decorating my new panic box!
"But what is a panic box?" I don't hear you ask 😂 well, let me tell you!
It's a box, tin, container or whatever you fancy using full of things to help you ground yourself or bring yourself out of a flashback/panic attack.
I've got most of the things going in mine on a list as well as other bits I think I would put in if I made another. Find it HERE
In mine, there is going to be (a lot 😂)
▪️Aromatherapy oil roll ons
Something to whip out quickly and use on your wrists to help use your sense of smell to ground yourself. I have lavender ones!
▪️Mindfulness cards
Just little sets of cards with quotes on. I don't personally find them useful in the moment, but some of you may, and I've put them in my box anyway!
▪️Fidget toys
(INCLUDING: fidget spinner, fidget cube, stretchy/bendy toys, twist and lock cubes)
These are there for tactile needs - gives your hands something to do while you focus on breathing.
▪️Visual items
(INCLUDING: lava lamp timer, finger torches)
These are visually stimulating items to focus on and ground yourself with.
▪️Chewable items
I personally have a chew necklace and a bracelet but there's many different types of chewy items. These I use when I'm anxious to stop me doing anything to myself as when I'm anxious or panicky, I tend to bite my fingers/hand/wrist so I use that instead. Very helpful!
▪️Stress ball
Pretty self explanatory 😂
▪️Mohdoh / putty
I'm very tactile defensive when it comes to textures, especially goopy textures, but mohdoh is like the right amount of firmness and goop that I can deal with AND they're scented - I have a lavender one and it really helps calm me down.
▪️A small cuddly toy
Something with a positive memory or link to help ground yourself in the moment.
▪️Magnets
You know those ones you used to have at school? The black oval ones that buzzed when you put them together? Yeah, those ones. Amazing. Something to keep your hands busy and also the sound can help too!
▪️Mints
For the oral stimulation. It helps clear your nose (or at least it feels like it does!) and I find helps with my breathing because I can't hyperventilate with something in my mouth 😂
Here's mine! It's not quite finished as I'm going to put a bunch of different textured bits on the outside of the lid for tactile stimulation but besides that, it's done and I'm really happy with it!
