macrame, and other things they give us crazy people to do.
Posted by resonanteye on 08/05/2012
I’ve been playing with macrame. I use one of these rocks as a grounding device, for DBT, for anxiety or worry/rumination. I just started making more of them to sell; everyone I’ve given one to before said they really help.
Grounding technique- when you start to become anxious or disconnected from your surroundings, touch an object and feel its surface. think of different ways to describe what it feels like- is it cold, smooth, rough, soft, hard? does it catch on your fingertips? hold it against your palm and feel its weight. look around yourself, and take a few deep breaths. You’re right here, right now, and safe.
(of course if a shark is about to eat you this won’t stop it, but if you are prone to panic or disassociation it can really, really help calm you down)
It’s been so hot I can’t stand to paint or sculpt or tattoo or even draw. So I am watching movies about crazies like me, and making macrame worry stones. All day long. Plus my car is having some issues so I can’t just go to the river to cool off.
There’s some really good macrame tutorials here, and here is a friend of mine who sells even nicer worry stones like this. (She uses metal chain instead of a macrame cord, for the tether.) And here is a good site about DBT and grounding.
lennygrey said
Very useful DBT link, I like the instant mindfulness flash thingies.