Tuesday, July 15, 2014

Relief for Obsessive / Worry thoughts



-Slow down

-Use mindfulness and acceptance approach right away, in order to avoid snowballing effect of ANTs. Do not challenge ANTs and don’t fight them. You are stuck in primitive (emotional mind). Content of ANTs is irrelevant and always nonsensical. Do not get stuck in the content of ANTs.

-Think any thought, don’t panic and gently bring your attention in the present moment as many times as needed. It’s a Puppy mind. Demystify it, just like everything else.

-Label worry as “just worrying” and then bring the attention back to the breath or to simply change the subject of their thinking. This technique involves no criticism or internal struggle, just simple non-judgmental labeling. Once your problem-solving brain is activated, you can label thoughts more precisely. This is done to avoid sweeping valid problems under the rug.  “Unpleasant thought about …. is passing through my mind, moving on.

-Avoid analysis-paralysis.

-Distract. Get your mind off yourself. Walk around the block, go to the favorite café

-Instead of asking yourself “How do I feel now?”, ask yourself “What am I thinking now?”

-Breathing and Relaxation techniques


-As you move from emotional mind to wise mind, most of these ANTs will fall off by themselves. The rest can be challenged.

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