Milestones or Steps Completed! Share and Celebrate Here :)
Congratulations! You made it to the next level on your growth path. Share with us the #1 thing you learned on this leg of your journey!
FH:4
@GlenM That I need to speak
Thank you! I learned from a clip on 7cups about OCD by Katie d'Ath "How to stop self from having thoughts you don't want to have..." https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AR6k2h9PRzc
Namely, we can't. It's not possible.... but she gave us some tips how we can empower ourselves through CBT.. habituation, that she explains in this clip... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zCqA5Ua3OVA&t=17s
The repetitive patterns I engage in are OCD are to fix/lower the rising anxiety, but that if I sit through the anxiety... and wait and wait and wait... (for what feels like forever)....my body will actually begin to de-escalate and normalize the situation for me... I don't try to stop the thoughts.. because I can't... but I can de-emphasize, ignore or take away my focus and intensity and just let it be there. (Eg. don't imbue it with meaning, feed the thought, argue with it, push thoughts away, and don't act on the thought.)
Instead, I let the thoughts be in my head and not pay attention to them...
Contrary to my belief that I was taking care of my anxiety by doing something to make the anxious feelings go away, I was actually just creating an endless loop of anxiety-->repetitive neutralizing action-->anxiety-->/neutralizing pattern--> etc. etc..
Katie's videos on anxiety, obtrusive thoughts and ocd really helped me. So I did nothing but sit with my anxiety, and it took a very long time...anxiety felt though the roof, but then finally the anxiety did come down on it's own without me fixing it or doing some neutralizing action... Just with me sitting with it, and doing other things in the meantime and not focusing on it... over time things came down and I didn't feel as anxious all the time... Celebrating baby steps!
Thanks 7cups!
I am learning to reduce suffering by more self-care
Feeling a little better every day
Every super strong wave of emotion passes.
@halffullofhoneyandsunshine
@GlenM I learned that there are people out there who want to be your friend and will gladly do it.
I reached growth path 150
I am very proud of my self for reaching such a high number.
Making sure I look after myself, however small the way is, means I'm better able to look after others.
I learnt that your never alone, even if you cant speak to anyone close to you
Let go of your worries often
