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It's recommended to have a range of sensory things and something to focus your mind on. You could include something to smell, something to touch, something to look at and maybe even something to taste.
You can change yours depending on your preference. I often take a miniature, more travel-friendly version when going on holiday also, which I would recommend if you find travelling stressful or anxiety-provoking.
I always keep a bottle of essential oil as it is a strong, concentrated scent; you can put a few drops on your clothing, stress ball or playdough. Another great item is a candle. The scent of a candle is perfect to focus your senses on and has the ability to make you feel much more present.
If you can't have candles in your home, room sprays or essential oils work in a similar way. If you try to keep the scent fairly simple and consistent, you can end up associating this scent with relaxing, which increases its effectiveness.
Of course, it's advised to pick music that is calming and has a solid beat to help you breathe slowly and steadily. Slowing your breathing to a steady pace can help you relax if you are feeling stressed.
I also find it keeps you fresh-minded, and the coolness of water can often give you something to focus on and have a grounding effect. I keep a cup or water-bottle in my self-soothe box, which acts as a gentle reminder to keep drinking.
In my box is a postcard with some steady breathing techniques written on it. It acts as a reminder to keep calm and focused. There are a variety of techniques available. Once you find one that works particularly well for you, write it down as a card to remind you.
This is entirely personal to each individual. I made up a load of little cards and wrote down my favourite uplifting quotes from films, books, poets and accounts that I follow on Pinterest and Instagram. Some people like to read their positive affirmations out loud to themselves.
I also keep letters and postcards that I have received from friends, family and teachers. Being able to see your positive attributes written down in physical form from the perspective of others can be really reassuring.
Having an activity to complete can really help you self-soothe. Reading and colouring in are the more obvious options and both of these work for me. You can find plenty of inexpensive beautiful colouring books, pretty much anywhere nowadays - The Works, Amazon and Waterstones all have a good variety to choose from. You can also find a lot of printable colouring sheets online. I keep some colouring pencils and a pad to fill in.
Colouring is a very simple task and having something beautiful that you made can feel very rewarding. You might like to write about how you are feeling, or try some creative writing or poetry; for that you can include a pen and notepad. I also keep a book that is an easy, light read.
I would recommend avoiding books that could be potentially triggering, particularly if you are in a vulnerable mindset. However, this can vary from person to person. I know for some people, emotionally dense poetry or literature can help reduce feelings of loneliness or isolation. Other activities can include:
This afternoon a picture of a massive Sturgeon was posted on Facebook and I thought it could be used as a friendly reminder about handling these beasts and to try not hoisting the fish up by the gill plates. Especially these ultra big 100+lb fish.
Its very hard to post something like this without coming off as a D-Bag, but honestly the Rainy River sees a lot of pressure in the Spring and it gets bigger and bigger each year (along with the fish). I think if we as anglers are going to take advantage of such a great fishery and invade the area en masse, then we should also be responsible for ensuring we handle these fish with care so that future anglers can enjoy the same experience or even better. Actually we are fortunate to even be able to take a photo at all, a lot of places out West don't even allow you to take a Sturgeon out of the water unless you are going to harvest it.
At any rate, this is an awesome fish that is clearly in the 100lb category and I hope to someday catch one that big myself! I am thoroughly jealous. I mean no disrespect to the angler that caught it or to single them out, but felt it could be used in a positive way.
Good luck to everyone this year, and if its too big too lift up, simply sit down and hold it in your lap, or heck lay down on the floor next to it. But please don't hoist it up by the gill plates, if only for a few seconds, that's all it takes to potentially hurt the fish badly.
That is a huge fish!!! I am sure the person had no intent to harm the fish like you said. I have never fished for these fish but I bet something that big might get hurt a little being lifted like that. If I ever catch one I will keep your post in mind.
We all ned to protect he future of all fish that is for sure. Good luck to all that get to go up and hit the river. My chance came and went and wasn't able to, now I will have to wait another year to try my luck.
Wow, I am extremely disappointed in this site. I have been a loyal follower for years, but just now decided to create an account. That is a truly awesome fish that this angler was lucky enough to catch, and as a congratulations his photo gets posted and torn apart by people who are jealous. I know this angler personally and I'm here to tell you that was his first truly big fish. I had more respect for this site until you guys absolutely degrade a young anglers first big fish. I thought that's why we fished was to introduce new anglers to the sport? Congratulations,you have successfully taken all the enjoyment out of this young anglers first truly big fish.
For all we know you are the angler. It doesn't matter. It was about as nice as Dtro could put it as a 'friendly reminder' not to try to kill the wonderful trophy fish you are trying to catch and successfully realease in hopes it lives another 50 years. So this 'young guy' apparently doesn't understand that it might injure the fish by hoisting it's 100# up by the gills- hopefully now he does and even more importantly hopefully hundreds or thousands of anglers that don't know any better know that after this post. I'm sure Dtro knew darn well there's be some cry baby whiners in defense and I applaud him for not shying away and posting this. If people don't know, they don't know! Education is key. Gill plates are not 'handles' in which to hold a fish by unless it's going home in a cooler for the table. Yes, I'm sure there is some jealousy it's a great trophy- but jealousy certainly isn't the motivator to education one on this topic. I think it has a lot to do with the hopes that someone else can catch this fish again......alive.
If a few comments "takes the enjoyment away" from this guy then he needs to grow a pair and some thicker skin. Anytime you post fish pics online you open yourself up to positive and negative comments. If a person is too much of a baby to handle that then I'd suggest keeping his pictures to himself and then nobody is going to comment at all- right? Problems solved with being butt-hurt over it and he can gaff it, harpoon it, or hold it by the gill plates all he pleases without being educated.
My first year guiding in Alaska in 98' (my first week there) I did the same thing with a huge steelhead that was to be released and local guides I worked with/ fished on the same water tore me a new one. It would have been nice to be 'educated' instead. Either way today I know better and I'm confident I've treated many of fish better because of it.
As I stated in my original post. I understand that its very hard to make a post like this without coming off the wrong way. Its an absolutely wonderful fish and nothing should be taken away from his experience. That right there is a fish of a lifetime and most people only dream of catching one that big.
BUT this site along with another was (and is) responsible for introducing the Sturgeon fishery on the Rainy River for a LOT of people who might have never heard about it before (myself included). So with that it should also be responsible for educating those same anglers on protecting the resource they are promoting.
I before Dtro post I did not know that this type of handleing of those fish was bad for the fish. I did not think it would be great but now thanks to the post I know a little more about these big monsters.
That fish is a monster and a huge congrats goes out to your buddy that caught it. I am sure there was no intent to harm or mishandle the fish. Im sure it was a blast to catch. Hope he catches many mor in his new found love for the sport.
So what you're saying is that we shouldn't hold any fish by the gills? A walleye Crappies muskies, northern, and trout can all be held by the gills, but a sturgeon can't? So its ok for people who use a net to land these fish to grab them by the gills to pull it out of the net, but take a picture like that and its an automatic death sentence? Maybe you internet fisherman should get out there and fish for these wonderful fish once and you'd see these fish are unharmed.
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