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Originally Posted by edmerch1984
Thanks.
Since the 'snapping' a lot of tears have flown. A lot. I find that I'm being much more honest with people about how I'm feeling. As for proactivity - through the roof. I've been applying for jobs, eating well, doing exercise, playing guitar etc.
Not feeling tip top, but I'm sure that this and other things in place will hopefully get me on the right track to recovery.
Do you find that it is ok to retrospectively snap? Sometimes I make important choices and retrospectively snap.
I showed this to my therapist today, she really saw the value in it, and if it is a piece of the healing jigsaw puzzle that works for me then great.
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Dear Ed,
WOW. I am SO glad it's really working for you. I can practically feel the joy and feeling of relief all the way from Scotland to Boston.
I think you're very right that it's a process. I only felt I was completely free of depression after a few months when I realized that I could decide SNAP! not to think about something if I didn't want to and that I could do the same for unpleasant emotions. You may find over time that your experience of emotions changes. You may feel like you have just more energy than before. You may realize that you are no longer AFRAID of your own emotions. For me, depression seems like it was a constant drain on me even when I wasn't actively being stressed. It's going to be a great adventure for you, I'm sure
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I think that snapping retrospectively is no problem. I don't think it's important to snap for everything or to always remember to do it. I often forget myself for a while. I've been doing it for about 1.5 years and I still love making tiny little nonsense decisions. What I think is important is to FEEL it and enjoy it when you snap and decide, to be creative about it and make it your own. You may find that each snap gives you "present moment awareness" as in mindfulness practices too, especially if you decide to use one of your senses.
At first, snapping may seem like a superficial trick, but, I believe that what it's doing is reconnecting you with that part of you that decides what happens in your life. In a way, that is your own true inner self, and reconnecting with that is all important. Depression, I believe, is exactly caused by unconsciously losing that connection. The symptoms can be complicated and indirect and severe, but that is the root of it. By re-making that connection, you've broken the spell and you are free.
I'm glad your therapist likes it too. It would be cool if she tries it with her other clients. At this point, I'm pretty sure that this could help many many people.
- vital