Safe Place Imagery

Back in my Containment 101 post I suggested using imagery to help self-soothe. Creating a safe space for yourself is not just something for people with trauma disorders. How many people do you know have pleasent pictures of beaches, forests, oceans, etc on their walls in their offices and homes. Everyone enjoys looking at peaceful images and thinking about how nice it would be to be there.

For people with trauma in their histories it can be very difficult to imagine safe spaces. A lot of normal things can bring up memories from the past. However, those who experience flashbacks have a great ability to retain sensory information, albeit generally negative and frightening, the ability to do this can be helpful if used in the right way.

In my treatment, I have been taught how to self soothe parts of me by helping to construct internal safe places to visit in our head when things become difficult. All of my parts have unique safe place imagery to call upon when they need to. In the beginning I found it help to create safe place collages to have right in front of me to help me focus on safe things. It's fun to make them and a lot of my parts enjoy collaging. So I post this to reccommend collaging your safe place. They can be images, words, music lyrics...anything that is comforting. I have some specific to help me with certain feelings or times of the year. Have fun with it!

Comments

[Vicki in AZ]

Thanks Tempy
I am creating a scrapbook of safeplaces. I am enjoying getting lost in the process and also using them.
I am a visual learner so using the collages really helps me.
xoxo