What I Put in My 'Life Basket' — the Tool That Saves Me When I’m Suicidal
Sometimes life is hard. Sometimes my struggle with my mental illness has been so hard that I wanted to die. In fact, in the past I have come to that place of trying to kill myself. But, by the grace of God I have somehow made it through all those times, and I am still alive and moving forward.
Sometimes life is not so hard. It is in these better times in my mental health that I want to work on living. I wanted something that would help me live when I want to die.
So, I have made for myself a “Life Basket.” In this basket are things that help me when I start feeling down or even things that help when I just want to make my life a little happier in the moment. I think that the word “life” is an important focus for me.
Maybe you need a life basket also. These are the things I have included in mine.
1. Tissues
2. Prayer for help
3. Reminder to have cuddle time with my kitties
4. Self-soothing items using the five senses:
- Smell
- Calming essential oils (lavender)
- Scented lotion (vanilla, sweet pea)
- Touch
- Thinking putty
- Soft stuffed animal (a little cute teddy bear)
- Worry stone (smooth and indented)
- Bubbles for bath
- Foot warmers and fuzzy socks
- Hearing
- Music list of favorite encouraging songs
- Reminder to use meditation app
- Noise-canceling head phones
- Taste
- Favorite candy
- Cash to buy my favorite ice cream (Häagen Daz Caramel Cone)
- Tea bags (calming chamomile)
- Sight
- Photos of beautiful places to imagine I am escaping to (tropical beach)
- Photos of beautiful things that make me happy (flowers)
- Photos of me with people whom I love
- Photos of my kitties
- Soft sleep mask
5. Things to do to focus my attention:
- Small coloring book and colored pencils
- Notebook to draw or write in
- Fidget spinner (pink)
- List of calming and fun places to go near where I live (the river, a park)
- List of activities I enjoy doing or new things I want to try (floating, people watching)
- My favorite book (“The Little Prince”)
6. Things to help my thoughts:
- Kind notes from friends
- Thank you notes from people I have helped
- A list of things worth living for
- The Bible
- A list of comforting verses
- Small book of prayers
- Small gift from someone who loves me (a small elephant figurine from my sister)
- Positive writings I have done about life and overcoming death and mental health struggles
7. My people (this is my favorite!):
- List of phone numbers for people I trust that I can talk to including:
- Husband
- Pastor
- Counselor
- Friends who are like family
- Mentor
- Family
- Friends
8. Emergency packet (if it gets too bad):
- Emergency phone numbers
- Suicide Prevention Lifeline
- Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner
- Primary Care Doctor
- List of medications
- Personal information
- Insurance information
- Mental health advanced directive
- A bag to carry needed things from my Life Basket with me to a safe location (friend’s or family’s house, Emergency Room, etc…)
So, there it is. My Life Basket. I feel better already! What will you put in yours?
Header image via contributor
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Through the depths of depression and death, I have come out the other side to live a life of hope, healing, and a love for others. I am a trained Peer Support Specialist, and a volunteer with The National Aliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) giving group presentations, teaching peer classes, and leading groups in the local psychiatric hospital. I am currently studying to become a mental health counselor. It is my desire to help others with mental illnesses heal, as well as to break the stigma that is in our society against people with mental illnesses.
cindy-wolf