Posted by Dinah on August 22, 2011, at 11:08:12
In reply to Re: Negative thought appearing » sleepygirl2, posted by floatingbridge on August 22, 2011, at 9:04:59
I have read two helpful books about obsessing. One is "Stop Obsessing" by Foa. The other one I can't recall.
I think the point is that if you put too much emotional energy into the thoughts, they gain in power. If you remove emotional energy, they can become a simple fact. This weakens them. I still get thoughts like this when I'm stressed. I pay attention to them, in that I make sure not to have any means to act on any accompanying impulses. But I also try to treat them like an external annoyance. It helps to remove the thoughts a bit. Instead of thinking "I wish I were dead" think "I'm having those pesky thoughts of wishing I were dead." By all means tell your pdoc, your therapist. Maybe not your husband. Definitely not your child. I think the book suggests singing them in a silly way. The more you can marginalize the thoughts and remove their power, the better. Keeping them secret and fighting having the thoughts just strengthens them.
And yes, Risperdal helps.
I'm not saying this to trivialize it. And of course, if you think you will act on the thoughts you should take them very seriously. But if they are intrusive thoughts, treat them as intrusive thoughts. It's unpleasant, to be sure.
At least that's been my experience. Your experience of the thoughts may be totally different, in which case please disregard my thoughts.
poster:Dinah
thread:994499
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/psycho/20110706/msgs/994553.html