friends with ptsd- how's it going? does anything help?

[intheflow]

7. I keep trying to remember this is an option.

It's worked for me when I've remembered to use it about, I dunno, 80% of the time. I find it least effective when trying to stop my monkey mind in the middle of the night and get to sleep. I find it most effective when outside and I move my eyes upward to the skies and tree tops (or stars at night). But it's pretty good, even when it it only offers only a few minutes distraction from whatever I'm struggling with. I think it's both that you feel like you're empowered to do something physical but not outlandish (move your eyes) and whatever your eyes land on when they stop holds your attention long enough to reset your brain. My problem is when I feel like I'm underwater with my depression I don't remember to do this very often. I sure could have used it earlier today.