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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 6 of 6. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Rach on February 15, 2002, at 6:12:06
Hi guys,
My dear friend, Kath, spoke with me today, knowing that because of my depression I would probably be understanding. She got me thinking about what she said, and I was just wondering if anyone else has ever done the same.
Kathy told me about how sometimes (mostly at night) she would make up little scenarios in her mind. For example, that her whole family was involved in a car accident and died. She would then, in real life, go through the emotions she would feel if it had happened for real. She would talk out loud - giving funeral speeches for her family members, talking to colleagues about returning to her career, getting comfort from distant relatives and friends. Kath said she was sobbing her heart out as though it was for real, and that in a way she kind of enjoyed the feelings.
I don't know if she enjoyed the release of the emotions from inside her, or if she actually enjoyed being miserable. Any thoughts, or any similar experiences? I wonder if this a healthy thing to do, or something very detrimental.
Thanks,
Rachael
Posted by Rach on February 15, 2002, at 6:18:02
In reply to Being a sook for the sake of it, posted by Rach on February 15, 2002, at 6:12:06
BTW, Kath knows that I am asking questions of other people (not known to her) about this. I'm not betraying a confidence.
Posted by fi on February 15, 2002, at 8:08:22
In reply to Being a sook for the sake of it, posted by Rach on February 15, 2002, at 6:12:06
Sounds complicated- I dont think there will be a clear answer.
How does she feel afterwards? If there is some sort of relief of tension, that is a positive sign.
Does she consciously decide to start imagining/experiencing these traumatic events? If so, maybe she needs to think about why she makes that choice. Sounds pretty gruelling.
I know the times I get upset about my own situation are usually after I've been 'set off' by an upsetting TV programme or something- starts off re the circs in the film, but once I've got upset it moves on to my stuff. Not sure how helpful that is either- probably a bit as not often and settles pretty fast. But doesnt actually make me feel any better at the time or after.
For Kath, is it some sort of way of feeling *anything*?
Could be worth her exploring with a counsellor/therapist, if its a regular thing and its bothering her?
Fi
Posted by Anna Laura on February 15, 2002, at 11:00:41
I think i've been experiencing something similar as a child.
Could it be a mild form of OCD? I could be wrong but the thoughts you were reffering to sound like intrusive/compelling thoughts to me.
I remember that the above thinking patterns used to be more frequent when i believed to be in a no escape situation, the mind scenes being a mental representation of my external situation sort of .
Thinking in a loud voice, the spechees, the release of tension and the crying could be just a personal "device" to deflate these compelling negative thoughts.
You might ask if she's been facing some sort of stress during the last months.
Posted by NikkiT2 on February 15, 2002, at 13:39:06
In reply to Re: Being a sook for the sake of it » Rach, posted by fi on February 15, 2002, at 8:08:22
hey hun - losdt ya email addy by the way.. drop me line and I'll add you back!!!
I do this alot.. always imagining the worst case scenario and how I would feel and exactly what would happen - flowers for funerals etc.. This has got alot better since being on an anti psychotic. But it had got very bad before.. where i was no longer safe as I was imagining my OWN demise so strongly I was scared I would follow through with it all...
Hope you're good!
Nikki xx
Posted by noa on February 16, 2002, at 13:51:34
In reply to Re: Being a sook for the sake of it, posted by NikkiT2 on February 15, 2002, at 13:39:06
I think most people do this kind of thing by watching dramas and scary movies, etc. Somehow maybe "exercising" our emotions?
The things I'd be curious about though, is what are her real relationships with these people like?
An OCD thing could make sense, too--kind of a superstition about preventing it from really happening by rehearsing it in your mind?
But is she feeling cut off from her feelings? Is she feeling like there is enough emotional connection in life?
And, I agree, it would depend on how she feels after goign through the emotions. Can she let it go? Or does it preoccupy her a lot?
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