Creating a hope box for tough times

This is not your grandmother's hope chest! The idea behind the hope box is to create a tangible collection of items that jolt you into that moment when you felt hope. I heard a story told by therapist at a suicide prevention workshop. A client of hers was thinking about suicide. She truly was in the darkest place imaginable and she could not see the light that was present in her life. She came across a picture of her parents and suddenly realized, "Wait! I have parents!" That was enough to jolt her out of that very dark place. Depression and despair have the power to obscure hope. That's why we have to have some tools in our toolbox to pull out when we feel down. The hope box can be small and inexpensive. Try a shoe box covered with decorative paper. Fill it with things that remind you of joy, love, happiness. Make a list of things you can do to feel better. Put some pictures of people that make you happy. Put in a favorite dvd or cd or a list of favorites. One client liked the idea so much that she also created a relaxation box for anxiety. She put in candles, soothing music, a picture of her favorite spot in nature. The process of assembling these items is often therapeutic too.

If ever you feel that your self help tools are not enough to help you feel better, please don't hesitate to contact me. The Colorado Crisis and Support line is available 24 hours a day at 1-844-493-8255.