they should have coached you on how to create one.

It can be real or imaginary. Use all 5 senses in your imaginary visit there.

My first safe space was at my best friends living room sitting in her burnt orange velvet rocker holding her cat and petting its silky fur. It is very quiet there. she puts on some soft music

my friend brings me hot Camomile tea and a lovely dark chocolate bar. I am imaging the taste and richness in my mouth.

I smell the scent of my tea. I see my friend's artwork, feel a warm heated throw and see my friend who is accepting and kind.

I start to relax. She has brought me a typical gift, scented bath salts, because she has a nice big clean tub ready for me.

I'm floating in the hot water. breathing in eucalyptus and mint. The water is calming, smooth, gentle.


I feel better now after sharing it. Remember...details...Sight, scent, sound, touch, sound, taste.


I have two others that involve the beach, but when I first needed a safe place, the beach did not feel safe, hard to believe but true.

I think we're in the era of 'think yourself well' for many illnesses. For my IBS for instance a lot of doctors said it was stress and recommended therapy, meditation, and positivity to help overcome it. None of these happy remedies would shed light on the fact I can't digest fructose. Only when I figured that out did my digestion ease.

I read every self-help book in the library looking for help prior to diagnosis of BP. I meditate and I still read philosophy and other 'happy' sort of books I guess. Anyway, none of it means diddly when it comes to bipolar. Bipolar is like a beast that wrecks the inside of my brain and self-help is like a nice nanny in the corner politely asking it to please abstain from taring down the place.

When the episode is all over - then I can meditate and think happy thoughts and be okay again, and I always swear it will never happen again. I swear that next time I will be in control.

Probably the most useful tool I've gained is meds because although I hate them, they have the power to kick the beast in the ass.

-- rapid cycler BPI --

I use my safe place especially for PTSD related trauma & anxiety.

Having a safe place to mentally return to is a foundation in starting trauma therapy.

My therapist assumed I had one, but I didn't. He helped me to create it.


there is a section in this book on creating a safe place:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/1572246286

the book is DBT Workbook for bipolar disorder.

I'm assuming that your safe place is a calming technique that you would use in addition to meds. ;-)

I hope this helps.

Thanks you guys :-) X!