DBT Skills And A Haircut

I used my DBT skills in a dream I had a few nights ago.  I dreamed that someone told me my mother died, and I was in a mall, so I began shoving people out of the way angrily and tearing down the escalator to jump into a fountain.  A DBT skill for when you're at the moment of crisis when you just can't handle your feelings, is to stick your face in cold water for 30 seconds.  Sounds weird, right?  Well, it works.  Something to do with making your body thinking you're drowning and it physically calms you down.  I was all set to share my dream with my DBT group, until my medical transportation company couldn't get their act together and get me to my group.  I will have to wait until next week to share.

Today I cut my hair off.  To explain why would sound crazy, so I won't try and explain.  Suffice it to say, I had black and gold hair a year and a half ago to support the Bruins, which in fact, only cursed them because they sucked after I did it.  I haven't dyed it in a year, so I had about 5 inches of silver and the rest was faded black and blond, about 10 inches of it. So I cut off all the hair dye.  My husband was not amused.  The plan had been to grow it out until it reached my waist.  But I had to do it.  Again, I can't explain the rationale without coming across as "crazy", so I won't try.  My mother is going to even it out next time I see her in a few weeks.

I had individual therapy today.  It was a good session.  Talked about loose ends not being tied up.

I lsiten to music 24/7 while I'm home.  Not sure if I've already shared that.  I can't not have music playing.  I have a Jenn's Greatest Hits Playlist in iTunes that is literally over 1.2 days long.  Distraction is a DBT skill.  Music helps keep me sane.  It drives my husband insane, but he bears it with patience and love.  I also now have 2 candles burning during the day. One is Evergreen Spruce, and the other is Pumpkin Spice.  I get the generic (cheap) candles at Walmart.  That DBT skill is called Self-soothing.

I feel like I should send the link for this blog to the Psychologist who runs my DBT group.  He would be thrilled to know I am using my skills.

Here's a picture of my long hair prior to being cut, and a picture of it post-hack.  I might add, I am only 35.  Gray/white hair is genetic.  I expcet to be completely white-haired in 5 years, just like my grandmother.