Posted by tabitha on May 30, 2004, at 2:47:05
In reply to Re: Calming thoughts, posted by pegasus on May 29, 2004, at 22:57:32
I've known about this notion of challenging negative thoughts for years, but somehow I just didn't believe it would work, or didn't think it was important to do, or I tried it and didn't feel much, and stopped. Something just shifted lately. It hit me, I'm forty-something years old, and spend the bulk of my free time feeling upset about things that, in the big picture, are really pretty minor problems. And that website made me consider the idea that my 'negative rumination' might really be changing my brain chemistry for the worse. I got a little motivational boost I guess.
Saying 'thanks for your opionion' is good. It puts a little distance between you and the idea. My T always tries to get me to see those thoughts as coming from the Critical Parent, but I pretty much resist. Thinking I have this scary mean person inside me is, well, scary.
That scary person is right now telling me I'm old, fat, and ugly. It does sound like a pretty mean voice, doesn't it? I think I'll try talking back to it. And isn't it interesting that this voice starts up with that, right after I decided to spruce up my image and wardrobe a bit? Hmmm...
poster:tabitha
thread:351090
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/psycho/20040522/msgs/352064.html