#inner safe space
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Developing an Inner Safe Space for Parts
Note: This post was written for people with dissociative disorders, but anyone else can use the methods here if they're helpful!
This post is all about inner safe spaces! What is an inner safe space, though? Here's what Coping with Trauma-related Dissociation says:
"Inner safe spaces are images of places where you can be safe, relaxed, and cared for. These images have been shown to be helpful to many people, not just those with dissociative disorders. This type of imaginal activity is well known to produce a feeling of relaxation and well-being in those who use it regularly. If your inner experience feels so jarring, unsafe, and frightening, as it often does in individuals with dissociative disorders, the ability to imagine these spaces becomes especially important and helpful."
Inner safe spaces can be useful for many things. You can use it to relax & alleviate anxiety. It can be a tool for soothing dissociated parts of the self, or aide in your communication with them. You or other parts can enter your inner safe space to protect yourself from feeling overwhelmed or potential triggers. Overall, creating an inner safe space can help make your mind a safer, calmer place.
So, how do you make one? All you have to do is imagine it!
Your inner safe space can be anything you want to imagine. There are no rules and it can always be changed! You can create one imaginary place for all parts of your system to share & add to. Or, each part of your system can create their own inner safe spaces to match their own needs. Some people already experience some sort of inner world, too. This can always be changed in order to make it feel safer and calmer for all parts of the system.
🌟 Ideas for inner safe spaces:
Outdoor areas like a meadow, beach, forest, mountain, etc.
Buildings like a cabin, tree house, castle, library, etc.
Vehicles like a car, pirate ship, submarine, spacecraft, etc.
Something underground, underwater, in the sky, or in space.
An entire planet or world of your own.
A fictional world that brings you comfort.
An inner safe space isn't a safe space if it doesn't make you, including all parts of you, feel safe. A good place to start is by writing down things that make you feel safe. If you don't know what makes you feel safe, try looking at what makes you feel less unsafe. It might also help to ask a loved one or therapist for help!
Invite your system to include their own needs, too. Try not to judge them even if you disagree. It's important for all parts of the system to feel safe.
🌟 Ideas for things that you can add/adjust to make your inner safe space feel more comfortable:
Add games, food, and movies that you like
Create individual rooms for each part of the system
Give yourself an inner appearance that makes you happy
Add your favorite colors, sounds, smells, & sights
Add people, characters, animals & creatures that you like
Give yourself a comfortable bed, with soft blankets & maybe even some plushies
Add pride flags!
Create a protective force field around your safe space
You or other parts may want to have a safe space that no one else can intrude upon and that's okay. It's important to respect each other's privacy. You can also adjust the inner safe space to make communication between parts easier! For example, you could add intercoms, mailboxes, telephones, or even a meeting area for aiding communication.
🌟 Having trouble visualizing, or can't visualize things at all? Try...
Drawing or painting it.
Writing about it.
Building it. You can use a video game like the Sims (get it for free!) or Minecraft.
Basing it off of a real place.
Collecting photos/videos of what you want it to be like. You can find royalty-free images on Unsplash and Pixabay. Or you create a Pinterest account!
Filling a journal, document, blog, or discord server with pictures, writing, and anything you want about your inner safe space!
Trying guided exercises for creating inner safe spaces. (IMO this is best done with a therapist's help.)
Asking your friends, therapist, or loved ones for their suggestions.
Creating a physical safe space instead of an inner one.
#actuallydid#actuallydissociative#actuallyosdd#actuallytraumagenic#actuallymultiple#multiplicity#dissociative identity disorder#dissociation#parts work#working with parts#DID recovery#DID support#headspace#inner world#inner safe space#long post#resources
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All About Headspaces!
We thought it would be a good idea to write a post on headspaces (or inner worlds) as we understand them. This post will contain information that we’ve learned along with our personal experiences. No two headspaces work the same way, and no two systems will experience headspaces in a similar fashion, so don’t be alarmed if your system’s headspace functions differently from what we describe in this post!
What is a headspace?
A headspace (or inner world) is an imagined, fantasized place that exists within a person’s mind. Headspaces are not exclusive to systems - all sorts of people can build or create their own headspaces. Many created systems or paromancers may call their headspaces “wonderlands,” but they’re in essence the same thing. Any system member can start the process of visualizing a headspace, and as other members are included and collaborate together, their headspace can grow to involve the whole system and become a place of solace and rest.
The creation of mental “safe spaces” is often used in therapy for treatment of anxiety, PTSD, and other mental illnesses. When feeling overwhelmed, it can be immensely beneficial to have a gentle, peaceful place in your mind you can return to in order to calm down and relax. Headspaces are a skill taught in dialectical behavior therapy, and many therapists may incorporate building headspaces into their patients’ treatment plans.
Who can have a headspace?
Nearly everyone is capable of building and maintaining their own headspace! The one example we can think of for individuals who may struggle to create a headspace are folks with aphantasia. Since headspaces are visualization tools, those who are incapable of visualizing places within their mind might find themselves unable to create a headspace.
You don’t have to have DID in order to create a headspace, you don’t have to be a system, you don’t have to be traumatized or even struggle with mental illness! Headspaces are for everyone, regardless of ability or state of being.
Are headspaces the same as paracosms?
In our experience, if headspaces and paracosms are not the same, they are incredibly similar. Both are imagined worlds that exist within the minds of the people who create them. Our paracosm exists as a part of our headspace, and many other folks may find their paracosms are similarly connected to their headspaces!
Are headspaces physical places?
No, headspaces are imagined or fantasized places and only exist within the minds of those who create them. While experiences within the headspace may seem quite vivid or feel visceral and may even have physical consequences and effects on each individual, events that take place inside the headspace are not happening in a physical sense.
Some systems with particular spiritual beliefs may understand their headspaces as physical places which exist in alternate dimensions or somewhere else in the universe. While these individuals are deserving of having their experiences heard and taken seriously, most headspaces in fact do not function in this way.
How can I make my own headspace?
To start, try to find a calm, quiet environment where you can be by yourself for a while. Close your eyes, and try to imagine the first piece of your headspace. This can be an area like a beach or a meadow, or something simpler like a plant or a piece of furniture. As you imagine this space or item, ask yourself questions like:
- What does this place or object look like?
- What does it feel like? If I imagine myself touching the object, or the things in the place around me, what textures might I encounter?
- What does it smell like? What does it sound like? How does it make me feel?
Envision using all 5 of your senses to imagine this place or object. Once you have a pretty good idea of what it looks, feels, smells, and sounds like, spend a little time just sitting in your space or with your object. Then, take a break from visualizing. Later, come back to it and try to imagine everything exactly as you did before. By leaving and coming back to it regularly, you can help ensure your headspace can somewhat exist even when you’re not actively thinking about it!
If you need help finding inspiration for your headspace, you can turn to image sites like Pixabay, Unsplash, or Pinterest to help you discover what helps you feel calm and safe. If you have access to other members of your system, perhaps consult with them to see what they’d like to have in a headspace and what you could create that would help them feel safe and comfortable.
Once you are able to comfortably and reliably access the place or item you’ve created, feel free to repeat the process to add to your headspace! Our system created our headspace in this way, and by this point it is a vast world full of different areas for our alters to exist in when they’re not fronting. But it started with one room - a living room with quilts tossed over couches, rugs all over the floor, and big, bright windows with sunflower curtains. Gradually we added rooms, then an outside, turning it into a treehouse, and just kept expanding from there!
Wrapping up
We know this post doesn’t go into much detail, but we hope this is useful to folks as a bit of an introduction to headspaces, what they are, and how to go about making one! We’re including some links below to posts and articles about headspaces and inner worlds - hopefully they can help even more! Best of luck to y’all with your endeavors to create a headspace that fills you and your system with peace and comfort!
^ this link uses “tulpamancy” language - our system has switched to “paromancy” language, which is less racist and less culturally appropriative! the guides on tulpa websites are still quite useful, but we wanted to include a disclaimer on the terminology.
(Image ID:) A pale orange userbox with a cluster of multicolored flowers for the userbox image. The border and text are both dark orange, and the text reads “all plurals can interact with this post!” (End ID.)
#headspace#headspaces#inner world#innerworld#safe space#inner safe space#wonderland#long post#note: the current fronters did not write this post#but we are more than happy to answer questions about headspaces to the best of our ability
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Mindscape - The Firelight Woods
A deciduous wood that changes distinctly in each season. From pastels in spring with vibrant flowers, to a deep green in summer, to shades of yellows, oranges, reds and browns in fall, finally to dark tree trunks contrasted in frosty white snow. All throughout the year, fireflies can be seen dancing and weaving through the trees at night fall, creating a beautiful display.
This is the clearing where Theodore and I sit and watch said fireflies.
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🍓🍰 —— 🍓🍰
a soft reminder that coping looks different for everybaby.
some of us color. some of us watch shows from our childhood. some of us buy ourselves toys & run our own bubble baths. some of us let someone else do it for us.
some of us don’t regress or age dream at all to cope. some of us hide under the covers & cry. some of us dissociate into childhood. some of us isolate with our stuffies.
coping doesn’t have to be pretty or aesthetic to be valid.
🍓🍰 —— 🍓🍰
#agere#sfw agere#age regression#agedre#agere community#safe agere#noncom regressor#non community agere#noncom agere#agere little#small space#baby time#sfw smolspace#tnytime#tnyr#tnyregression#inner child#inner child healing#trauma regressor
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goin down the slide!!!!
#my image!#kidcore#I’m havin so much fun#felt so small!#age regression#sfw agere#age regressor#agere community#age dreaming#agere blog#safe agere#agere little#sfw littlespace#sfw interaction only#liminal space#toycore#inner child
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How To Clean your Pacis
Pt. 01
Basic Paci
- Take a part all the pieces (The handle, base, button, and nib) *warning the handle is very sensitive and prone to breakage, if not handled with care*
- Now wash each individual piece with hot water and dish soap (avoid soap heavily scented)
- Now let all your pieces dry either pat dry with a clean towel or let air dry
- Once all the pieces are dry you can carefully reconstruct your paci
#noncom agere#noncom little#non community agere#toddler regression#sfw toddlerre#sfw safe space#inner child
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Blue's Clues Agere Moodboard
One of my current regression shows that I'm OBSESSED with is Blue's Clues and I wanted to make a moodboard for anyone else who loves this show! (also I have a really cute Blue's Clues bag I'll post soon. The bag is from when I was three but I found it last summer and it is sooo cute!)
Anyways here's the board:
Have a good day my lovelies and may all your regression be safe and spent doing everything you love!
#middle regression#sfw middle space#agere little#sfw littlespace#age regressor#agere blog#involuntary age regression#neurospicy#sfw regression#safe space#voluntary regression#blues clues#inner child#trauma healing
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✦ Simple activities for agere kids/littles! ☁️
🍁 Collect one item from nature that matches the colours of the rainbow! (leaves, fruits, ...)
🍊 Take your stufies/toys for a walk!
☀️ Try and look for as many different animals/insects as possible and write them down!
☘️ Assign your friends/family colours you think "match" them!
🌊 Take photos of sunsets/things you like!
🍇 Organise anything in rainbow order! (clothes, pens, ...)
🌸 Use chalk to draw some of your favourite characters!
Have fun !!!!
#activities#agere activities#agere#agere blog#agere community#age regression#sfw agere#age regressor#sfw regression#safe agere#little safe space#inner child#healing inner child
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my calico critters in their colorful room 🌷☀️
#calico critters#childhood nostalgia#inner child#lesbian#sapphic#coquette#pink aesthetic#sapphic yearning#coquette dollete#dollette#lesbian safe space#wlw#mine#my photo#femme#high femme
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Agere Oc :3
#agre#sfw agere#age regressor#age regression#safe agere#agere little#agere blog#age re safe space#age regression oc#inner child#inner child healing
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Art therapy/ visualization for creating your very own "safe space":
- draw a box around your heart. How big is the box, and what would you put inside it? How does it feel inside the box? Is it warm? Happy? Cold? Silent? What colors and aesthetics would you give your box?
- is there anything "good" in your box? What colors & feelings do they give you? How do these things make you feel about yourself? Do you enjoy them? Or do they make you "cringe"?
- is there anything "bad" in the box? What are they connected to in your life, either present day or past? What colors would you give this feeling? How does this affect the overall feel of your box?
- is there anything "controversial" in your box? Anything that makes you worry but you're not sure what to do about it? Or things that make you feel like you can't be your true self because of how others feel or what others have told you? How big are these things compared to the others? How much space do they take up in your box? What colors would you give them?
- how full is your box? Is there any empty space, or is it full to the brim? Whats it full of most, "good" things, "bad" things, "controversial" things? How does this make you feel?
- is your box in good condition, or are there any breaks or tears in it? Is it falling apart? Is it big enough to hold all of these things? what kinds of things threaten to tear or break your box? What & who are these breaks connected to in your life? Can you think of any ways to fortify your box and make it stronger? Duct tape? Super glue? Do you bother to fix it, or do you leave it broken?
- what sorts of things would your box have in it if it was a brand new, never-been-opened-before box? Childhood innocence? A good, happy home? Peace of mind? Financial stability?
- how do you feel about your box and whats in it? Do you protect it? Do you smash it? Does it make you feel "weird" or "cringe"? Can you think of any ways to hold these parts of you in softer and kinder ways?
- how do you want your box to be handled by others? Is there anyone you'd trust to show your box to? And who has access to it now, and how do they handle it? Do they help you patch the holes? Or do they make new holes for you to fix by yourself?
- which version of yourself do you trust with your box more- your past self, your current self, or your future self? Are there any words you'd like to give that version of you at sendoff?
- give yourself a big giant hug if you are comfortable with doing so. Your box is a very precious item, and you deserve to spend time mending the holes and fortifying that space for a better day ❤️🩹
🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸
Hope this helps ❤️🩹
🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸
#recovery#ptsd#trauma#mental health#healing#boundaries#trauma informed#trauma aware#art therapy#visualization#safe space#inner child healing#inner child work#child abuse#emotional regulation#bpd#self hate#self harm#self love#advice#growth#communication#relationships#therapy#trauma therapy#abusive parents#codependency#ed
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☆ Dream play kitchen moodboard ☆
#agere moodboard#sfw age regression#soup's safe space#agere sfw#agere lifestyle#age regressor#agere blog#age regression#age dreaming#agere#sfw agedre#sfw agere#sfw smolspace#sfw age regressor#sfw agedre blog#inner child healing#sfw interaction only#agere toys#fake food#play food
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Animal Crossing Mini Playing Cards that you could get from Nintendo’s loyalty program Club Nintendo.
#animal crossing#animal crossing new leaf#acnl community#nostalgiacore#tom nook#animal crosing new horizons#nintendo 3d xl#nintendo animal crossing#playing cards#acnl blogging#club nintendo#cuteness#dobutsu no mori#2013 nostalgia#gaming#nintendo games#safe space#dreamy#internet nostalgia#nostalgic#inner child#acnh switch#acnh community#animal crossing 3ds#acnl aesthetic#acnl#nintendo 3ds#webcore#old web
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Oh to be a brown Scottish fold cat living in a mountain range with trees and a lake just exploring and hunting and climbing to my hearts content
Sounds like heaven... <33
#animals#ScottishFoldCat#therian#questioning therian#feline#theriotype#therian stuff#imagine#peaceful#inner peace#mountains#therian safe space#dni kink#antis dni#cat therian#therianthropy#catkin#otherkin#felinekin
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𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐞𝐜𝐡𝐥𝐞𝐬𝐬 ✍︎︎.
a/n- this poem is dedicated to a special someone & i thought about her today.❤︎︎
(this poem is about me accepting the idea of someone loving me (inner thoughts fr.)
if i could just articulate it,
piece by piece,
bit by bit.
there would be no pure explanation,
that someone so vile, so burdened,
could possibly love you.
but someone showed you that idea,
you could never feel or know,
that her love was there, so easy to show.
she couldn’t possibly love me,
the you that could be silenced,
the you that couldn’t grow.
she stayed,
despite the burden,
despite the trouble,
so would she love you?
could she say it easily,
or would you say it and struggle?
@k3nn3dyxo @imjusthere2readbruv @kisskourt @poems-and-word @inmyheadimobsessed @inadvertently-writing @kaytpoems @abbiemhart @abenomeiiii @ihearttish @shurisvibranium
#black girl aesthetic#romantic#black poet#black poets on tumblr#black writers#female writers#love moodboard#gxg#love#sadbeautifultragic#inner thoughts#safe space#sad poetry#female poets#queerness#black love#wlw#wlw poetry#SoundCloud
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The toddlr urge to sit on a soft fluffy blanket and put everything in sight in my mouth.
#non community agere#noncom agere#noncom little#sfw safe space#sfw toddlerre#toddler regression#inner child
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