Clean Pajamas!

[Heather]

This possibly has nothing to do with anything but I am going to post it anyway!!!

When I am at home and feel that I am going into a panic I go and have a shower and then get into nice clean pajamas, this works almost everytime. The shower calms me down and then Pajamas are my safey blanket and then if I can I curl up into a ball for a little while that is even better. It calms me down and then I can move on.

Of course this is only when possible and is not really about coping with mental illness as such, but it certainly helps me when I am depressed, anxious, in a panic etc...

Heather...

 

[SS8282]

Glad you have something that works for you. Sounds very soothing. Hugs, if ok.

 

[Retired]

I believe the memory of a calm, safe experience can be soothing and a useful strategy to relax.

Years ago my wife and I were sitting in a couple of aluminum chairs in the surf on a beach at Cape Cod.

Whenever I need to regroup and relax, I sit down and take my mind back to those blue aluminum chairs and listen to the surf and to the waves and sea gulls in my mind's ear.

I have used that particular mental image for over twenty five years to deliver me to a state of relaxation.

Anybody have similar mental images that work for you to produce the same effect?

Is this a similar technique used by people practicing yoga?

 

[Heather]

Thanks and yeah hugs are always ok SS8282.

TSOW -- I often use my safe place. OK I will explain, basically I was abused as a child and I am now studying caring for children and we have been doing child protection, which is of course a touchy subject for me and so when I get upset and triggered I imagine my safe place, which is a place that I used to go to get away from the abuse when I was a child. When I imagine this place I calm down and relax more. This is different but sort of the same thing!

I dunno about your question about yogo, due to religion I am not allowed to do it.

Heather...

 

[David Baxter PhD]

Why is yoga against your religion, HJ? It isn't a religion... it's just a relaxation/exercise technique.

I am fortunate in that I live close to water, which I've always found sooting for some reason. Sometimes, walking along the river bank or sitting looking out at the lake. It even works if I just sit in the car on a cool or wet night and look out over the water... something about the way the light ripples on the surface of the water...

 

[momof5]

David,
I have always enjoyed the ocean, and its calming effects.

At one time when Resorts was the only Casino in AC NJ, I had a job there, however it was in a group home of other women that I lived with. We were all the same age. SAdly to say, the owner of the house would just walk into rooms of some of the girls. Sicne I worked night shift he was working day shift so it never happened to me. Of course it made me uncomfortable, and even with being promoted t manager of the next casino gift shop that he was opening, I had decided to leave. Good thing I did, not many years after he was arrested for runing a prostitution ring.

I loved the time I was down there because on my nights off I would sit on the board walk and watch the sun set and rise. And just listen to the waves crashing on the beach.

To me, the ocean reminds me of the greatness of God, it just never seems to end and is so large and wonderful with many mysteries within it.

I sometimes think of that time when I could sit on the boardwalk, no people scurrying around just myself and the noise of the ocean. It was so calming. I always loved the sea gulls as well, the always seemed to be laughing.

 

[Heather]

I know it isn't a religion but I am unable to do it because of the thought process (long story), I have a close friend who is a yoga instructor and she has been trying to get me to do it for years due to my stress but I can't!!!

Heather...

 

[momof5]

I know it isn't a religion but I am unable to do it because of the thought process (long story), I have a close friend who is a yoga instructor and she has been trying to get me to do it for years due to my stress but I can't!!!

Heather...

I would love to do this due to how good its supposed to be for fibromyalgia, but when I see those positions they get into? EEEK! I would never get out of them IF i could get into them.

Oh, btw, I do understand your thoughts on this as there are different ways people use yoga. A prayer group I belong to is against using yoga for anything healt wise as they feel it has alternate things related to it. I was even sent some web sites. But its like any other thing that can have more then one meaning, its how you look at it that counts. Not sure if I have helped you out on that one or not heather. In the end, its your choice and reasons that count I guess is what I am trying to say.

 

[David Baxter PhD]

I would love to do this due to how good its supposed to be for fibromyalgia, but when I see those positions they get into? EEEK! I would never get out of them IF i could get into them.

There are many forms of yoga and not all of them are like that.

there are different ways people use yoga

Almost certainly, as with anything. And almost certainly there are good and bad instructors and good and bad people who run yoga programs. Just as there are good and bad priests, ministers, and pastors...

 

[momof5]

Know of any links online that would have safe exercies for fms?

 

[David Baxter PhD]

Actually, there are several -- see this Google search for yoga fms.

 

[momof5]

Thank you so much Kind Doctor. I greatly appreciate this.

 

[Cat Dancer]

I liked the idea of pajamas so much that I got a pair. I haven't gotten the courage to wear them yet. I know it sounds silly, but ever since I was almost a teenager I wore my clothes to bed because it seemed safter to me. But I KNOW I don't need to do that anymore so I am hoping to be able to wear my new pajamas soon. LOL. I think I am weird for just not being able to wear them. It seems like such a simple thing.

 

[Heather]

No don't feel silly we all have things like this that we do or can't do and others can freely do.

I hope though that if you want to be able to wear them that you are able to do so.

Heather...

 

[g-scared]

I do that too!

 

[Heather]

It like totally works!!!

I did that tonight too, lol.

Heather

 

[ThatLady]

Whee! Love jammies! Comfy, they are!

What you might try is coming at this pajama thing slowly, Janet. Wear just the top (or just the bottoms, depending on what feels most comfortable to you) and wear you clothes, as usual, for the part not covered by pajamas. Wear underwear with them, if that makes you feel more safe. Then, slowly work yourself up to wearing both the tops and the bottoms.

 

[Heather]

Good idea thatlady

I am so hopeless with this jammies thing that I will even get into clean ones to write an assignment due to the comfort and the way they make me feel

Heather...

 

[momof5]

I have my favorites, during the summer I have this one that I wear that has spaghetti straps, and is soo old that I have twist tyes on it!

then I have a spring/fall one that got sort of messed up in the wash, but I still wear that one as well.

and my Robe, love that thing. My husbands Aunt gave it to me years ago, and it had torn pockets and a few other tears in it. Hubbie wanted me to toss it, so I got out the needle and thread and sewed the pockets closed and the tears all up, and it is as good as, well almost new. LOL

 

[ThatLady]

I have a thing for vintage clothing. I've got some silk pajamas from the 20's that I just adore! They made things so much differently then. Once you get used to wearing pajamas, look into some of the lovely vintage items on EBay. You can often get some lovely things very inexpensively. I have a local cleaners that understands my vintage obsession, so if it isn't washable they get it. It's really great fun!