Welcome to the second instalment on helpful images. I wanted to add a general point that the images that I will talk about have been particularly helpful for me personally and I would encourage you to be creative and hope that these instalments will help to give you that inspiration to think about images that are relevant to you.

The second image in this mini-series is an air-mattress (or bed, whatever you prefer). I find this helpful to relax and unwind before bed and has been built from breathing exercises that I was given during counselling.

The idea behind this image is making you aware of your breathing like other mainstream breathing exercises, particularly trying to imagine that calming ‘de-flating’ sensation. On the face of it, it seems like ‘just breathing’ doesn’t do very much for anxiety but slowing your body down slows your mind down too and especially for me, helps me to think more rationally.

I add an extra bit to help with my sleep. When I struggle to switch off my busy brain, I picture an air mattress that is no longer needed and is being de-flated to go away again. Therefore, I tell myself that this is the time to ‘de-flate’ because this isn’t the time to be busy and I can rest until that appropiate time comes round again.

Thank you for taking the time to read this and I hope you find it helpful. As always, feel free to get in touch with any questions/feedback/comments, I always love to hear it. Stay tuned for the next instalment.

Until next time
K