My Support Forums - View Single Post - Controlling Our Thoughts

*Beth* · Dec 11, 2022, 03:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MuddyBoots

Another major major thing that helps me manage my thoughts (not sure if this was mentioned yet) but is journaling. When I'm manic I can easily reach 20 pages in a day, and that helps me get my thoughts out while also keeping me from doing something reckless (if I choose to do it, that is).

I guess this site could be kinda like journaling, but with journaling you can be even more open and not have to worry about proper wording and being understood.

I'm looking at my DBT worksheets and I'm seeing a few things that might help from the Mindfulness module. Like just looking at the facts. Distancing yourself from emotions (i.e. "it appears x is making me experience anger" rather than "I'm angry"). And avoiding judging your thoughts. If you find yourself judging your thoughts, don't judge the judging! I'd write more but Saco just laid down on my papers and is belly up so I don't want to disturb him

I have a "thought disorder" (Sza) as well, and find APs (in my case Haldol) help manage my thoughts so much better than any other type of med. I don't have any racing thoughts or bizarre thoughts anymore and that makes a huge difference.

Thanks, Boots. I'm having an instinctual feeling that for myself, I need to be mentally stable before I can venture onto the higher planes of thought management, such as mindfulness meditation. Actually, it may be that those practices could have the potential of being risky when one is not in a safe place mentally and emotionally.

I think it is great that you journal and I so want to do it. In fact, I have a lovely, big, blank journal on a book shelf just a few feet to my left. Quality paper; I purposely chose it for that. And I've written one page. Yet I write a ton here. I don't know why I have such a difficult time with journaling. It feels so lonely to me, for one thing. I love relationship and interaction.

I am, however, after the overwhelming (in terms of our book business) work of the holiday season is over going to serious look into DBT. Then I will be using my blank book.