![[dr. bob]](/dr-bob-sm.gif)
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 14 of 14. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Shar on March 11, 2002, at 12:34:21
I was wondering if people here follow their intuition much. Or call it 'gut feeling' or 'the voice screaming DON'T DO IT inside your head' or maybe even 'conscience.' Do you all hear anything like that? Do you pay attention? How has it worked out?
To me, it's the feeling I have prior to some occurrence--can be as simple as 'don't take that job' or can be a little scary.
Scary example, one day I was sitting in the cafeteria where I worked, chatting with a coworker (Jan) who had some EMT (paramedic) training. I casually glanced to another table where one guy was sitting. I thought 'I wonder what Jan would do if that guy had a seizure.' Then the guy--about 5 seconds later--had a grand mal seizure. It was terrible to witness...but in a way I was sort of prepared and went and got someone to call 911.
That type of thing, tho, is very rare for me. In this thread, I mean more the little voice thingy saying 'do' or 'don't' or 'wait' or whatever.
Shar
Posted by sid on March 11, 2002, at 13:38:46
In reply to Intuition, posted by Shar on March 11, 2002, at 12:34:21
Yes, I try to follow my intuition. I say I try because I used to follow my head only (rational decision-making), and it led to desastrous things for me. When I think back, I realize that my gut-feeling was telling me to decide otherwise. So over time and with efforts, I try to be conscious of my intuition and to follow it more than before. My head still plays a good part of my decision-making, but my entire being must ne in agreement. Otherwise, I pass.
- sid
Posted by IsoM on March 11, 2002, at 14:54:22
In reply to Intuition, posted by Shar on March 11, 2002, at 12:34:21
Shar, all brain & personality tests say that I'm smack dab in the centre of left- & right-brain. Logical & emotional. I have intuition about almost everything. My logical side will then try to analyse why. It agrees with something I read in a science journal saying most people with intuition have logical reasons for their hunches but just aren't aware of why. You can train yourself to see what makes you have a hunch.
Not that this is the reason for what you wrote about the man having a seizure - only using it as an example. You glance over at him, notice something subtle about him that indicates an aura or something that makes you think 'seizure', turn back to your friend, think paramedic, & the two ideas come together. Mind you, this all happens on a subconscious level without you even be aware of it - it's only when he has a seizure that it hits.
I know I'm explaining this very badly, but the article pointed out that our mind will operate on many different levels at the same time & clues are noted & entered without our awareness. If we become more attuned to why we feel these hunches, we can better use them for our benefit. For example, do you instinctively dislike someone? Are there sound reasons for your hunch, or is it just because his looks remind you of the hated school bully, while his personality may be completely different, very sweet?
Sorry to be so pedantic over this but I think more people should pay attention to hunches & gut-feeling, & learn whether to ignore them or go with them. They can be very valuable tools in our relationship with others.
Posted by NikkiT2 on March 11, 2002, at 15:45:43
In reply to Intuition, posted by Shar on March 11, 2002, at 12:34:21
I ahve intuition about people.. I can just tel what they're like and how they will treat me.. I normally know whether someone will be a friend with in minutes of meeting them... This even works on line...
I can read people incredickly well.. almost like I can sense their aura.. again, this also happens on line.My intuition is rarely wrong, so I do tend to follow it... but I am prepared to have my opinion changed if that person does something to change it.. But thats fairly rare occurance!!
Nikki x
Posted by trouble on March 12, 2002, at 2:44:39
In reply to Intuition, posted by Shar on March 11, 2002, at 12:34:21
Hi y'all,
I think you're lucky to have a sense of intuition that you trust and is part of who you are.
I have been lucky too, in life-threatening situations that turned out good, but not from my doing, but b/c someone showed up or I found a door open that was supposed to be locked so I found shelter from the storm, etc.
So many of my psychiatrists and psychologists have rightly told me that I must not trust my own perceptions and that I don't have this "intuition" trait, though I've read books on how to develop it and tried. But my pdocs turn a jaundiced eye toward any mention of intuition, and are inclined to record it as psychosis. I still think that the more reality-oriented I become the more available intuition will be, but for now it's all bungled up w/ delusions and hypothesis that run amuck.
However, when it comes to helping people my supervisors always put down Highly intuitive on my job evaluation, and I do seem to instinctively know how to relate to Alzheimer's patients who haven't left their room or said a word to anyone in weeks, but I do it blindly, w/out any inner voice directing me. I don't think that's intuition, it's more recognizing a kindred spirit and giving them what I need for myself.
I wish I could hear that still, small voice inside telling me what to do next, but it's so quiet and unassuming I just drown it out. I try to pay attention to my solar plexus to get a reading on people and situations and that's dead too. I am a very poor judge of character, a "mark" really, trusting no one but somehow ripe for the picking.
I know meditation and nature walks and yoga would make space for intuition, but wellness stuff threatens my entire way of life, but here I sit, almost entertaining these ideas. Thanks for the inspiration,
trouble
Posted by Gracie2 on March 12, 2002, at 20:35:27
In reply to Intuition vs. psychosis, posted by trouble on March 12, 2002, at 2:44:39
Intuition is a highly personal trait. Some people can "sense" when the phone is about to ring or find themselves humming a song before it starts to
play on the radio. Other people, like me, are just paranoid. Every time my son walks in the door after a night out I whisper, "Thank you God."
On the other hand, I am trying to train myself not to expect the very worst in every situation.
I don't know when I picked up that habit, but it's crippling and generates the most unneccesary misery.
However, if you find your intuition is often correct, I would "stand by"; I wouldn't ignore it.-Gracie
Posted by IsoM on March 12, 2002, at 23:32:42
In reply to Re: Intuition vs. psychosis, posted by Gracie2 on March 12, 2002, at 20:35:27
Much of what has been talked about is precognition: sensing or knowing something before it happens (knowing a phone is about to ring). What I had answered was about intuition instead. Intuition is the ability to sense or know something for reasons not easily discernible though there are reasons for this feeling.
I have a good sense of intuition - I have NO sense whatsoever of precognition. To me, there's a real & important difference between the two.
Posted by sid on March 13, 2002, at 23:07:45
In reply to Re: Intuition, posted by NikkiT2 on March 11, 2002, at 15:45:43
> I ahve intuition about people.. I can just tel what they're like and how they will treat me.. I normally know whether someone will be a friend with in minutes of meeting them... This even works on line...
> I can read people incredickly well.. almost like I can sense their aura.. again, this also happens on line.
>
> My intuition is rarely wrong, so I do tend to follow it... but I am prepared to have my opinion changed if that person does something to change it.. But thats fairly rare occurance!!
>
> Nikki xSame for me (not so much online however, as I never chat and only post here... not much experience online). I have changed my mind about a few people over time, only to get back to my initial opinion after even more time. I got to know something positive about 2 people I didn't like, started getting to get closer to them, and then later realized they were exactly as I pictured them initially - ended up regretting the friendship. Pretty powerful stuff.
- sid
Posted by sid on March 13, 2002, at 23:11:48
In reply to Re: Intuition vs. psychosis, posted by Gracie2 on March 12, 2002, at 20:35:27
> Other people, like me, are just paranoid. Every time my son walks in the door after a night out I whisper, "Thank you God."
> On the other hand, I am trying to train myself not to expect the very worst in every situation.
> I don't know when I picked up that habit, but it's crippling and generates the most unneccesary misery.It sound like it might be an anxiety problem: unnecessary and irrational worrying. Have you talked to your doc about this? If you have depression, you're more likely to develop an anxiety problem. I have GAD, so I know what it's like to constantly imagine the worst case scenario. If it turns out to be anxiety, you could find some relief (therapy, meds, meditation, yoga, etc.)
- sid
Posted by Gracie2 on March 14, 2002, at 10:52:54
In reply to Re: Intuition vs. psychosis » Gracie2, posted by sid on March 13, 2002, at 23:11:48
Sid-
I have this anxiety WITH medication. You should see me without. Thankfully I'm not that way about everything, most of it is centered around my son. I'm glad I didn't have more kids because I just worry so much.
I have been thinking about yoga classes. I have tried meditation but it's very difficult for me to focus. I could probably also do with some religion.
Thanks-
Gracie
Posted by sid on March 14, 2002, at 12:46:06
In reply to Re: Intuition vs. psychosis - Sid, posted by Gracie2 on March 14, 2002, at 10:52:54
Many parents do that, you're not alone. About more kids... I think you'd have made yourself worry less just for your own survival. The people I know who have only 1 child temd to worry a lot more.
Well, good luck. Yoga helps me a great deal - the slow and deep breathing especially.- sid
Posted by Cass on March 18, 2002, at 16:57:17
In reply to Re: Intuition » Shar, posted by IsoM on March 11, 2002, at 14:54:22
IsoM,
That sounds like an interesting article you read. Do you have the name of it and the journal/magazine it came from? I'd like to read it.
Thanks.
Posted by IsoM on March 18, 2002, at 17:13:08
In reply to Re: Intuition » IsoM, posted by Cass on March 18, 2002, at 16:57:17
Sorry to say, Cass but no. I read a lot of medical/science articles as the only mags I read are gardening & science journals. What I will do is try to find an on-line article about it in the diff science journals I read. If I can find it, I'll post the URL for you too.
Posted by IsoM on March 18, 2002, at 18:50:25
In reply to Re: Intuition » IsoM, posted by Cass on March 18, 2002, at 16:57:17
I haven't found the articles that I orginally read but here's a couple of things I dug up. The first one, learning to use your intuition is basically the same I used to learn how to trust my intuition.
http://www.thelearningcoach.com/101lessons/019.htmlThe next one is interesting to make the most use of our intelligence.
http://www.coachcenter.com/CompleteThought.htmlI'm fortunate in that I tend to naturally develop very successful startegies. Common sense for me is second nature. Unfortunately, my very major weakeness foils everything up. In Scientific American, I read a psychologist say how a person uses four different processes in their brain as they make their way through life. They are-
1. Problem Finding Self:
-factual
-rigorous
-research
-financial
-analytical2. Implementing Self:
-disciplined
-organised
-capturing
-verifying
-planning3. Idea Finding Self:
-holisitic
-playful
-visionary
-playful
-intuitive4. Idea Sensing Self:
-interpersonal
-expressive
-spiritual
-sensual
-tactileUnfortunately, I absolutely suck at #2. I can do some of it but am terrible at organisation. I have a poor sense of time too. Oh well, I'll be working on that for the rest of my life, I think.
Anything else I come across that really fits what I previously read, I'll post.
This is the end of the thread.
Psycho-Babble Social | Extras | FAQ
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.org
Script revised: February 4, 2008
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/cgi-bin/pb/mget.pl
Copyright 2006-17 Robert Hsiung.
Owned and operated by Dr. Bob LLC and not the University of Chicago.