Well today I had a full day f classes at the San Francisco VAMC Psychosocial Rehabilition and REcovey Center (PRRC).
(http://www.sanfrancisco.va.gov/...)
The center piece of the PRRC is the Wellness Recovery Action PLan (WRAP) as described in the book "Wellness RecoveryAction Plan (WRAP for Veterans and People in the Military" by Mary Ellen Copeland, Phd. Honestly, I just got the book and haven't read it yet which seems to be fine because in the WRAP class we did a "Winter Wellness Planner" (developed by CSP-NJ Wellness Institute -- www.wellacc.org)The wellness Planner makes some really interesting notions, like Physical Activity and sleep are very important during the holidays, Hahaha. "Not having a social network can lead to lonelyness and this can become overbearing." Yep, true, and the holidays are NOT the best time of the year to try and develop a scial network since everyone is SO BUSY with their social networks! I personally loved this gem, "Spending can get out of control." I suggest trying to find ways to give gifts that don't involve money!
After the WRAP class which turned out not to be abput the WRAP, I attended a class in making a "Sensory Kit". This class I like the premiss of. A SEnsory Kit is a personalized kit one creates that includes meaningful items a person finds specifically important and meaningful, both for preventive purposes and during times of crisis.
This really spoke to me. I always have a Messenger Bag with me, so this is something that I could really do. I immidiately started to think of things that culd help in times of crisis. First thing to be included was a small vial with a cotton ball dipped in Tea Tree Oil! The smell of Tea Tree Oil reminds me of the most special, supportive and caring person in my like, Dean. Dean is all the good parts of Tea Tree Oil, like you can put it just about anything and it heals it. Te sell of tea tree oil immiediately reminds me of my loving, caring, funny, artisistic friend Dean. It reminds me of shopping in Rainbow Market, or laughter, of good times and a good and loyal frend.
The next thing I added to my sensory Kit was a burning bundle of Sage. I love the smell of sage, and the smoke of sage is believed to purify things and places. No brainer!
Next I added a vial of Lavender Soap Shavings. The smell of lavendar soap reminds me of summers with my Grandparets, of being safe and loved, and nurished and provided for. Those lavendar soap summers are the best memories of my life.
Then I was thinking about what I could pack that would help with Panick Attacks, and in went a paper bag, and a few ativan, OK, so I am cheating!
Well that is the Corner Stone of my Sensory Pack which I wil continue to work on and add to. Stay tuned!
SLEEP HYGIENE
Of course people think my problem is GOING TO SLEEP, (which now due to fear of falling asleep it is!) but the real problem is that once I fall sleep I wake up due to nightmares within 40 minutes or so of falling alseep. That being said I got to speak to a therapist about SLEEP HYGIENE. It highlights some things to do to help fall asleep, like no caffine or Nicotine for at least 4 hours before sleep. And it gives other options to fall alseep. Iwanted to pull my hair out nd yell, I go to sleep FINE, it is the nightmares that are my problem! But I took a breath and smiled at the aide and said thank you, I would read it over!. ARG
HIGHTMARES
Seems there are a couple of options to dealwith thenightmares I have been experiencing. First is Protocol that they have developed and second is a study that is taking place. My Advocate wanted me to decide on a course, which I couldn't do, I want to try them BOTH, can't I do both? Learn the Protocol and take part in the ongoing study? What if I choose te wrong one, and the other one would have worked and gotten rid of the nightmares? So she is going to ensure that the study is alright with me going thrpugh the Nightmare Protoco and learning the protocol as well as participate in the study!
I hate t be selfish ere, but this is my mental health and happiness here, and I am totally convinced that the Nightmares and my inability to get a good nights sleep is the corner stone and intertwined with EVERYTHING else going on in my head. If I could just get a reastful nights sleep I am sure I could deal with EVERYHING else!
So now I will have t wait a day or two to find out what path we are taking to deal with the nghtmares! I hope I can leanr the Nightmare Potocol and take part in this new study and learn the new techniques.
WORD OF THE DAY
Anxious, Indifferent!
3:41 AM PT: This is from 12/14/11 ... yesterday