Posted by Dinah on July 4, 2005, at 12:44:35
In reply to how do you handle swinging between extremes?, posted by pinkeye on July 4, 2005, at 12:04:05
DBT, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, developed by Marsha Linehan, is specifically designed to target this, among other problems. Some of it can seem a bit silly, but you might appreciate the incorporation of meditation, mindfulness, and other elements of Eastern religion and philosophy.
It also helps just to be aware of it. To catch yourself when you're thinking in extremes, try to remember times you felt differently, and acknowledge to yourself that your perception right now is probably a bit skewed. That's especially helpful in not acting on it.
I don't know how old you are, but I think age helps. The older you get the more you realize that things are never as straightforward as they seem. That A is not completely right, and B is not completely wrong, but that both A and B contain elements of truth. Sometimes completely contradictory elements of truth that yet manage to both be correct. Now we're back to DBT.
Medication can also play a part in levelling the mood swings that lead to extreme feeling. But they do have side effects.
My own opinion is that swinging between extremes generally causes one a lot of pain. It can also be comforting in a way. It's a lot of work to see and try to change the pattern, and there's no doubt but that you lose something along the way. IMHO, it's worth it. But then I've never liked pain. Or intensity.
A while back I proposed reading and practicing DBT here on Babble, but there wasn't much interest. If you're personally interested, though, I'd be happy to do it with you. There is also a Yahoo group specifically designed for that. I think I've lost the link, though.
poster:Dinah
thread:523279
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/psycho/20050628/msgs/523289.html