Better
That last journal worked, I need to remember it. I went to a networking event last Tuesday, alone; and I survived! The ability to be aware enough to change feelings is a valuable skill for me, especially answering a threatening feeling with, "Will I really die if I do this, or not?". The awareness of old reptilian survival brain fears is worth questioning with rational feelings rather than its knee-jerk reactions.
I plan to use it often, it worked Tuesday evening, and I had a good time too, and no alcohol either. I proud of myself.
I plan to use it often, it worked Tuesday evening, and I had a good time too, and no alcohol either. I proud of myself.
Replies
Happy for you!
Good stuff. I find thinking the following helps me (with scary presentations or speeches) : if I die tomorrow will it really matter? Do I need to be afraid of this really? Xxx
I\'m catching on to recognizing the DISASTER! reaction sooner than ever before. I believe if has a lot to do with Vicki teaching me to \"sit with the fear\" when it HITS and scares me first before I can \"sit and absorb\" that initial Fight, Flight, Freeze, or Faint automatic reaction that tends to overwhelm my hippocampus\' ability to regain equilibrium. It\'s like retraining that SURVIVAL OR DEATH reptilian brainstem, which I preconscious or pre-verbal. In order to verbalize I must be conscious enough to ask the, \"Is-this -really-about-to-kill-me?\" response. Being overwhelmed emotionally means overwhelming our (my) ability to think and choose. Thinking and choosing takes seconds of time, emotions can be non-verbal (pre-verbal in memory) and take milliseconds, a thousand times faster than \"thinking-pulling from memory-comparing multiple options\" and \"choosing the preferred action based on probable outcomes that may be most optimally beneficial.\" See what I mean?
AND... even Rosie\'s self-talk is good in that anxiety is always about a FUTURE consequence, not an immediate consequence. Agreed? It even works for me for my buying impulses and compulsions: \"Do I really NEED this to survive?\". Does anyone else have impulse threats like this?
Y\'know, I really do have a problem with being brief for some people.
Is it possible to sit with the over-whelming feelings, without judgment, before you are able to sit with your fear...Whatever it is for me, I work really hard at making it \'ok.\' No judgment any more. Believe me, I have had to honor some pretty nasty things that form in this head. :-) If this were happening to me, I would honor the panic/overwhelming feelings; whatever is happening at the moment...Accepting the Is-ness of the moment (whatever it is) is major to me. Well, that\'s what works for me...maybe not for you!
xo
Nope, it\'s working for me too, when I practice using it. It\'s the same concept, correct? Feeling impending doom is a judgment, right? So I\'m getting used to the \"survival reaction\" as a trigger to become more aware consciously rather than judgmental emotionally. Making it \"okay\", as you say it, is a conscious thought, choice, in my mind. I do believe you technique may be more beneficial for me, instead of questioning and comparing my feelings to reality. It is a new habit to build.
Thanks,
X\'s & O\'s
For me: I make it \'okay\' not to be \'ok\' also...I work at validating and approving of myself in all ways,
I removed should\'a, would\'a and could\'a from my vocabulary a few years back and that has helped me tremendously.
Hope your having a wonderful Sunday Rich!
xo