"Because I don't take medication, I had to find other strategies to cope with my illness. Over the years I have been lucky enough to meet many therapists who have assisted in the compilation of all the stuff I have learned. The 'Safe Place' visualization has been proven and is most effective.
"The purpose of the safe place is to be able to go their automatically when things start to get a bit rough. It takes a lot of practice - you have to go to this place as much as you can during the day.
"What I want you all to do is think of things that comfort you; things that give you warm fuzzies and form a picture in your mind of these things.
"Also think of a place where you can go to get away - a desert island, the top of a mountain with a panoramic view, or rooms with clouds on the walls. You bring up this picture, the same one with only minor variation each time. The idea is to get yourself so familiar with this place that you can get there easily. Imagine smells, noises, everything.
"Put yourself in this picture and imagine what you would hear, what you can smell. Smells and noises are important; they work as 'glue' for getting to this place and staying there. As you concentrate on this picture, you will find yourself adding little bits and pieces to it, fine tuning, which is good.
"I want you to place yourself there, walk around the scene, and take a good look at objects. Touch them, feel the surfaces. A tree would have rough bark. A fire would give off heat. Birds might be circling, calling out to their mates. Dolphins may be leaping out of water, hear the splash as they re-enter the water. A cool, relaxing breeze may be refreshing on your face.
"It is up to you to visit this place often. Get it cemented in your mind - go their often and relax. You will find yourself automatically heading there when timer are a bit rough, and even when times are okay and you just wanna chill.
"I have two safe places. My first one was a tunnel with the light shining at both ends. It made me safe because I always had two exits to get out. I had a little fire going with bracken on the ground to sit on and it was great for me. But, then I moved on to my second one.
"The one I use now is a desert island. It makes it easy for me because I have sailed past a few whilst being in the navy so I can smell the salt air and hear the birds. I can go there anytime, in any situation and I have walked every inch of the island, felt the sand trickling through my fingers, and climbed the tree to feel the coconuts, swum in the ocean, befriended a dolphin.
"Do you get a strong sense of 'being' in this place? Like you belong there? If you do, then it has begun - you are on your way to success with the safe place.
"Just remember to visit there often, have a chilled bin full of drinks or a mountain stream from which to drink from so you don’t get thirsty. I am always there before I sleep, better then any sleeping pill!"
