Pages

Monday, March 9, 2015

Care Package

I recently came across the idea of The Coping Toolbox (though I'm more inclined to call it my Care Package), which is basically a collection of things that should help someone feel better when they're "feeling anxious, panicky, or distressed"...to quote the place where I found the idea. Even though I'm feeling better overall, I figured this might be something good to put together for myself.

Care Package

Last night I put together a list of things that would go in my care package, and after putting it together I wanted to share what I came up with.

Love note to myself (thinking about writing one feels weird but may be therapeutic)
Love poem from Murray (I remember he wrote one I liked a while back...need to find it...)
Chocolate
Cat toy (I used the one that I used to keep on my altar...what, doesn't everyone keep cat toys on their altar?)
List of exercises (since exercise can help depression/anxiety)
Favorite QC comics (like this one)
Small notepad
Pen
Coloring pencils
Bubbles
Sun charm (not sure if I have one...)
Essential oil(s) (peppermint!)
Small black cat eraser (because black cats are awesome and I happened to find it when looking around)
Nicely scented massage thingy that Murray gave me a while back
The Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula K. Le Guin

...though, I may wind up moving that book out of my "box" and back onto my night stand. That'll give me easier access to it.

I feel a little strange making a care package for myself, but I know that having something like this may have helped me in the past. That being the case, I figure that I may as well make it now. And since I still have ups and downs, it could be useful. Though I'm not sure how long the chocolate will last.

Not everything that's on the above list is in my care package, and not everything that found its way into the package was on my original list. I guess you could call it a work in progress. Who knows, I may eventually move it into an actual box instead of using the Victoria's Secret bag that happened to be handily available.

5 comments:

Debra She Who Seeks said...

What a great idea! I think I'd put a couple of CDs in mine with some favourite music on them. And a few photos of happy memories from trips, special occasions etc.

Im Zweiten Stock said...

You put Together A wonderful care package. Everybody needs something like this. And you should not forget yourself.
It brings joy when you're sad

Dancing With Fey said...

Debra -- I was thinking about music, but most of what I'd listen to is on iTunes on my iPhone.

Magia -- I think you're right, this is the sort of thing that would be useful to everyone at times.

Debra She Who Seeks said...

Ha ha, shows what an old fogey I am! Still listening to CDs!

Dancing With Fey said...

I still have CDs, and a nice CD player sitting on my night stand. I just find it more convenient to use my iPhone most of the time, easier to carry around.