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Was wondering if anyone is familiar with Socratic questions.
I was given these as 'home work' by my therapist, but Im failing at it. I just don't know how to answer these questions. I'll be more specific.
The thought to be questioned is:
i am not important (or not important enough)
I'm supposed to give evidence for and against this thought.
(Most of my evidence is for, very little against)
Question 2
Am I basing this thought on fact or feelings?
Feeling mostly as most of my evidence for is how I "feel" left out, ignored, invisible ECT
Question 3 --is this thought black and white or more complicated?
I don't know? Complicated?
Question 4 ---Could I be misinterpreting the evidence or making assumptions?
how should I know??? I don't understand this question at all.
Same w question 5 might other people have a different interpretation of the same situation?
Question 6---am I looking at all the evidence or just what supports my thought.
i think so?
Question 7---Could my thought be an exaggeration of what's true?
Question 8----am I having this thought out of habit or do facts support it?
Question 9----is my thought likely or worse case scenario?
7,8,9 I answer both, maybe, I don't know. Ahhhh this is so confusing.
Question 10 I actually understand.
Was this thought passed to me by someone else.
Absolutely, multiple sources thru our my life have told me and confirmed that I am unimportant, worthless, nothing ECT.
I'm supposed to debunk the thought, belief that I am
NOT Important,
NOTworthy
That I Do NOT matter
How can I do that when I truly believe it to be true.
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I invited Bill to have dinner with me last Sunday. He wasn't willing to drive 7 hours to mid Michigan and teased me with his beautiful ribs!!! So, of course I ate alone and had cedar salmon
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check out that smoke ring. It tasted really good. I smothered it with Maulls BBQ sauce which is Local to St. Louis and one of the best I ever had.....
the TV show Columbo used it all the time....he asked questions that got him to the answers he wanted
that is what this is about....trying to get you to decide that he is directing you to think you are worthy......
I'm just very confused and overwhelmed cause I don't know how to get the answers to these questions.
I certainly don't know why your therapist chose this method, but in my opinion, it is not always as productive as the intent in many cases. With the difficulties that you are experiencing, I would not overthink the exercise. It's normal and not unexpected. Answer the questions the best you can, even if left blank. This is an exercise in building dialogue and nothing more. Socratic techniques can be frustrating, assume prior knowledge, overlook emotional aspects, and often come across trick questions. I did not participate in this method because it left me feeling defeated and inadequate.
Remember that you are in control of your treatment plan and your own best advocate. Share your feelings with your therapist, They're doing their best to help you.
Wishing you a good day full of peace and calm.
YES that's exactly how I feel.
I think I understand the intent (to question and debunk my negative thinking)
But I just don't think I'm emotionally ready (or capable) of that yet .
I see my therapist again Monday. I'll take in what I was able to do and the rest blank. And discuss it with her maybe we can go another direction or find another way to get to the answers.
Thank you both for helping me understand. That does help me feel at least a bit better about not having the answers
Thank you.