SELF CARE RESOURCES
There are many resources for self-care in the healing journey, and the links below provide a blend of secular and spiritual ideas that others have found helpful. We welcome your ideas as well; to suggest a resource, please click to use our contact form.
Positive Affirmations
Rewrite negative narrative & reprogram your subconscious mind through practicing positive thoughts and prayer.
Heal the Mind through the Body
According to trauma expert Dr. Bessel van der Kolk, author of The Body Keeps the Score, trauma lives in our bodies as well as our minds. Physical movement can help to heal the mind through the body. Try Pietra Fitness, yoga, running, swimming, walking, aerobics, dancing.
Mindfulness
Mindful breathing exercises and meditation are helpful in managing our fight, flight, freeze or fawn responses. Soothing activities like coloring can also help with mindfulness.
- Catholic Mindfulness
- 5 Minute Meditation
- 5 Minute Mediation with Oprah Winfrey
- Coloring
- The Art of Healing Trauma Coloring Book: Therapeutic Coloring Pages and Exercises for Stress, Anxiety, and PTSD by Heidi Hanson
Expressive Arts
Since our brains can sometimes “split” trauma as a means of helping us process our experience. This can be dissociative, but art therapy can help a person reintegrate the trauma in their lives.
- Creative writing or journaling
- Visual arts like painting and drawing
- Musical and theatre arts
- Sewing
- Sculpting