Smell — Smell is interesting for me. It's one that has a huge impact, but that I often forget about. Do you have a perfume or cologne that you enjoy? Wear it, spray it and enjoy the scent. Try and keep a small vial of it with you in your purse, car or pocket and take it out when you could use a boost. I've also found a lot of aroma therapy oils fairly inexpensively. Find a scent that works for you, and try to keep it close. If you're in a tight situation, and have worn the perfume or cologne, smell the air and see if you can isolate the scent.
What three things do you most like to smell?
Taste — This one can be a bit tricky for people with eating disorders. Historically a lot of emotion is wrapped up with food in my family and with many people. Find a simple, small way to stimulate your taste buds. Here we're not recommending binge eating, or even necessarily a full meal or snack. Try something small and simple. Find a mint or brand of chewing gum that you enjoy and keep it handy. Even during the most explosive confrontations, you may be able to pop a mint in your mouth and take a brief moment to savor the flavor.
Identify three small things you could use to stimulate your tastebuds?
Touch — If you have the time, try soaking in a warm bath or spa. Get a massage or ask a friend to rub your shoulders. My father used to by very wide pens, and he'd pull it out of his pocket and roll it around each finger several times to comfort himself. I've heard people taking a small swatch of suede, silk or velvet and keeping that in their wallet when they need to feel something nice in a pinch.
Smell — Smell is interesting for me. It's one that has a huge impact, but that I often forget about. Do you have a perfume or cologne that you enjoy? Wear it, spray it and enjoy the scent. Try and keep a small vial of it with you in your purse, car or pocket and take it out when you could use a boost. I've also found a lot of aroma therapy oils fairly inexpensively. Find a scent that works for you, and try to keep it close. If you're in a tight situation, and have worn the perfume or cologne, smell the air and see if you can isolate the scent.
Taste — This one can be a bit tricky for people with eating disorders. Historically a lot of emotion is wrapped up with food in my family and with many people. Find a simple, small way to stimulate your taste buds. Here we're not recommending binge eating, or even necessarily a full meal or snack. Try something small and simple. Find a mint or brand of chewing gum that you enjoy and keep it handy. Even during the most explosive confrontations, you may be able to pop a mint in your mouth and take a brief moment to savor the flavor.
Touch — If you have the time, try soaking in a warm bath or spa. Get a massage or ask a friend to rub your shoulders. My father used to by very wide pens, and he'd pull it out of his pocket and roll it around each finger several times to comfort himself. I've heard people taking a small swatch of suede, silk or velvet and keeping that in their wallet when they need to feel something nice in a pinch.