Posted by Dinah on May 26, 2005, at 18:02:12
In reply to confusion about therapy, posted by sunny10 on May 26, 2005, at 15:05:10
You may have read that I was disruptive in the seminar my therapist was giving when I first met him. It was on this subject that I was disruptive.
He introduced a simple guided relaxation, and led people through it. The purpose was to focus just on the relaxation exercise and let other thoughts go. Afterwards he asked how it had gone, and people dutifully said that it was very helpful. But I said that it didn't work at all. That my mind was capable of keeping several threads of thought going at once. After which many other people chimed in with the same observation. Sort of a "The emperor has no clothes" moment. :) But he still told me to call him and arrange to come in and see him. lol.
I read lots and lots of self help books, giving different techniquest, and listened to tapes too.
Lots of imagery has helped me over the years. I like Linehan's imagery of watching your thoughts like leaves floating down the stream.
But eventually I think I just figured out ways of doing it myself that work for me. I can now do a reasonable job of calming my mind before sleep most times.
For me the key was practice, as Pegasus said. My therapist kept at me with part of it. But most of it I just did by trial and error.
Not very helpful I fear.
poster:Dinah
thread:503230
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/psycho/20050521/msgs/503287.html