it's weird. it's a lot easier to say you'll ignore the mood than actually doing it. maybe still not giving it power is all I can do.

Yup, happens to me ALLOT. I will even call ^it^ the most recurring syndrome in my personal psychosis. Insert Jimmy Dale Gilmore song here: "My mind has a mind of it's own." The harder I work to tell it what to do, the more ^it^ starts its tricks.

Bring on the Justers and just-it-all. I haven't found a justy solution for it, either.

Gentle empathy. It's a bitch and a bastard, too.

thanks arfie!

Insight is an important tool and you have really good insight Marky....... I found journal-ling can really help with this as well..... When you look back a day or so later at what you've written it can actually be sort of surprising..... Big hug sweetie..... I'm glad you had a good day with family.....xo

thanks Jan!

I know that feeling all too well and all too often. Don't have a fix or coping skill for it. I call it the rabbit hole (Alice and Wonderland type of rabbit hole). Somewhat like journaling, I use an app to chart my activities, mood and triggers. Only helps in hindsight. And hindsight is always 20/20. If you find something that helps- please share!

What I can do mark is tell you how I approach it when my mind picks at me. I compartmentalise it. I realise it is only one perspective, and only one aspect of my personality that thinks that way. One part. This next bit will sound a little weird at first... I thank that part for trying to protect and help me. I realise it's like a well-intentioned but poorly skilled parent or sibling trying to use fear, doubt and worries to control me in some way. It has my best interest at heart and it is using an induce-paranoia strategy to try get there. Inner critics use criticism, this guys bag of tricks is slightly different. Learning to do this and then step through a process of getting to know and help parts heal and transform has been the basis of the therapy I have done for the last few years buddy. I started with just a book called Self Therapy.

The two best teachers I know are Bonnie Weiss LCSW and Jay Earley Ph.D. Here is a link to their website. I follow their advice now. My initial approach was a bit scattered because I came across the information from other, less clear sources. I know Jan was interested. The ebook or pdf is $9.95.

http://personal-growth-programs.com/ifs-program-right/

Thanks SO much Moobbus!!

Great insight and information, Moobbus.

It IS a difficult transition going from being around a lot of people to being alone! I agree with Sun, you have tremendous awareness and insight into your thought processes mark. That's a good thing....you can recognize and then sort things accordingly....

Good info, moobs!

Thanks Sensitive