PASTEL CRAYONS

 maybe you’re having a panic attack, maybe you’re dissociating or maybe you’re just stressing.

here is something i found really helps in those moments:

Move from the place you are in right now, take a step back and find a more comfortable position

be patient, and be mindful that it will not go away with the snap of a finger. this is a wave, and you have to ride it

close your eyes, focus first on your breath, and the beatings of your heart. count to 10 very slowly

now open your eyes, don’t let the fear stop you, take ten seconds to notice the world around you, name the first things that you see, or just try to memorize where it is and how it looks

now close your eyes again, Count to 10 and slowly breathe, let your thoughts flow and don’t cling on to them, they will still be on your mind, but they have to flow freely

open your eyes again, look at the same object that your saw before, notice it is still on the same place, nobody moved it, it is the same color.

notice more things around you, notice how everything is ok, and you are not going through an extreme situation,  count another slow 10 

Close your eyes again and keep repeating this, keep noticing and naming more things, notice the sounds, the smells and the textures around you. Ground yourself in the reality of the moment.

1. Whenever you accomplish something you’re proud of, don’t downplay it. Whenever you do something that brings you joy, allow yourself to feel happiness. Whenever you do something correctly, pat yourself on the back. And whenever you do something good, however small, acknowledge that you did it. Any act of kindness, or love, or straight up goodness is worthy of praise: be as positive as you can when you do something worthwhile.

2. Spoil yourself without feeling guilty, and don’t hold back for reasons like weight, or level of deserving, or “I don’t need it.” Life is hard, but you’re still here kicking ass: you deserve a reward every now and then, whether it be some ice cream, eating out, new clothes, a car wash, anything.

3. Giving is great, helping is great, and being nice is great, but sometimes it can be exhausting, especially when people aren’t reciprocating and are only taking. You aren’t a bad person for not doing what’s “decent” all the time, and you aren’t a bad person for saying no. In fact, setting boundaries is a wonderful way to establish your worth to yourself and others as well as what you will and won’t do.

4. Be completely, totally, awesomely, and genuinely you. Be loud about who you are as a person. Don’t hold your individuality back, certainly don’t for the sake of others. You can spend your life trying to please everyone around you—it won’t work, I promise—and pretending to be someone you’re not, or you can do what makes you happy and be your true self, drawing people that like you for you. You’re unique, specially handcrafted. Show it off, because the world needs more beautiful diversity.