Y de Yoga

recoveringmymind:

beautythroughhealth:

Recovery DIY Wednesday - ‘Trigger Candles’

The purpose of a trigger candle is, essentially, to give you a physical reminder to think all of your harmful urges through thoroughly.

When you find yourself triggered to give into a self-destructive urge, whether it be to purge/self-harm/binge, you light a trigger candle and you can’t act on any urges until after it burns out. During the time that the candle is lit, do something for yourself: paint your nails, give yourself a facial, read a book, watch a show, reflect on your goals and recovery, but while that candle is lit you can’t harm yourself. You might find that, after you’ve had some time to sort your rational thoughts from your irrational thoughts, that it’s easier to make healthy decisions.

Here’s what you need to make your own trigger candles (you can find all of this stuff at Hobby Lobby, or online):

• 3/4 cup soy wax flakes
• 0.25 ounces of your fragrance of choice (I used a warm vanilla scent)
• 5 small-medium seashells/tea light holders (if you’re using tea light holders, you’ll only fill them up 1/2 way)
• 5 candle wicks, with metal anchor attached.

Here’s how to do it:

• In the bottom of a double boiler, heat 1 inch of water over medium heat.
• Put soy wax flakes in the top of the double boiler, whisk with a fork as wax melts.
• Once the wax is almost completely melted, add fragrance. Whisk.
• Pour melted wax into seashells/tea light holders and immediately place wicks (anchor down, of course) in the wax, towards the center of the seashell/holder.
• Wait 30 minutes for wax to set, and trim wicks if needed.
• Your candles will be ready for use in an hour. If you use seashells, make sure to have a nonflammable surface underneath your candles when you light them!
• Candles have a burn time of approximately 45 minutes.

Make more candles as needed, and enjoy!

Love this idea, and love DIY projects <3

(via livinglikeagiraffe)