Posted by alexandra_k on October 3, 2006, at 3:50:07
In reply to Re: I get upset » alexandra_k, posted by Deneb on October 2, 2006, at 16:31:20
The idea with the skills is to practice them every day. Even if it is just for a minute or two. When you practice them you are gaining a motor (body) memory of them. That way when you are feeling upset you are better able to use them to help you.
Kind of like how you are supposed to take medications not just when you are feeling bad, you are supposed to take them to help prevent your feeling bad.
To start with you have to consciously make an effort to practice them. After a while doing them becomes a bit more automatic.
Meditation is a bit different from distraction. Distraction is about...
When you feel upset then usually you get to thinking... Thinking... Thinking thoughts and feeling upset. Distractions are things like going for a run or playing a computer game or doing something to try and divert your attention from how you are feeling or what you are thinking. It isn't healthy to try and distract yourself from ALL your thoughts and feelings, but when you are distressed by your thoughts / feelings then distraction can help you get through the worst of it.
Meditation... I think that what it does is help improve attentional focus. Attention is kind of like a muscle and it is more powerful and we are better able to control it if we practice using it. Things like studying and listening in lectures and stuff help. Anything that requires attentional focus. Meditation is something that requires attentional focus too. If you practice meditating it is kind of like exercising your mind and you will be better able to distract yourself from your distress when you are feeling distressed.
The way I learned to do it was to start with mindfulness exercises and develop that into meditation.
I'll see if I can find the stuff online...
poster:alexandra_k
thread:691052
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/social/20060922/msgs/691405.html