Couch 222: Create, Cooperate, Harmonize

I liked The Good Place, although I don't think I ever actually finished it. I like rewatching Bob's Burgers for soothing predictability.

We just finished The Bridgertons on Netflix and enjoyed it. I'm not usually into period pieces, but this one was fun. Definitely don't watch with your daughter or your parents, though! It starts off slow but ultimately earns that TV-MA rating.

Another hour and fifteen minutes left in this shift and the I’m off for several days. I just want to go home and sleeeep.

Thank you @StressedMess Because of my religious background it doesn't really help for me to tell myself that the demon isn't real because I do believe in demons (and their counterparts angels) so it's hard to know if it is a delusion, a hallucination, or real. That is where talking to my Pastor's wife is helpful. Pastor T would probably be helpful here too but he is just so intense on the socialization thing that I can't work with him. I might email him though and get his opinion.


I work by myself today (today it is just one person---me in the office---and one person in the machine shop! Two people running the whole show! Gasp! It might make me open to suggestability because no one is here. I might play some music today or something.


Thanks so much for your kindness. Happy New Year to you!

Oops -- I have a session at 7am tomorrow. Should have realized ahead of time that tomorrow was New Year's Day and asked to have the session ever-so-slightly later so I'm not miserable after staying up and drinking champagne

Pastor T said it is definitely not a demon that is bothering me but a hallucination or delusion and to make an appointment with my psych right away. I already have an appointment on the 6th. I don't think it is going to get any sooner than that! Sigh. Ugh. Now I just feel crazy.

Anyone know of good ways to fight against hallucinations and delusions? My T always says to talk back to them but yeah, who wants to be THAT crazy chick who talks to herself at work? I try to get distracted and honestly that seems to help the most but sometimes it is hard to get distracted at work. Like today I don't have a lot of work to do so it's hard to get distracted at work. I do have that massive scanning project and I did do some of it but yuck that's going to last for eternity! So besides talking to them or being distracted from them anyone else have ideas?

I don't have any tips for dealing with hallucinations or delusions. Have you considered listening to podcasts while you work on the scanning project? That's my go-to when I have to do something tedious. There are, I don't know, probably millions of podcasts out there, so you can certainly find some that you like. They're free and available on your phone.

Thanks EM. I'll have to look at my phone and see what is available. I can put on music and that sort of helps but the task is just so mind numbing.

Maybe some users in other forums on here will have tips—schizoaffective or psychosis, for instance.

Thanks @@ I did ask there too. But since T had given me advice I didn't know if anyone else's T had also.

In terms of depth work, I did a lot of work with my first therapist around understanding the meaning of my delusions. Working with them as metaphors rather than responding to them as frightening or as random manifestations helped me to understand and incorporate reality.

Are you familiar with the Helicopter View? It's not specifically for psychotic experiences, but the idea is that you attempt to hover above the experience to gain a more objective and complete view. I would use a simplified version and ask myself these questions:

What does this delusion/hallucination mean to me? What does it say about me?

How would my trusted friend respond to this delusion/hallucination? What would they say was happening?

What would an outsider advise me to do? What might a trusted professional say?

It's long and complex work, I don't think there are easy tips really. For me, distraction only worked til the distraction ended, the delusion ultimately outlived the activity. Keep safe.

Thank you comrademoomoo. I have not heard of this method. It does seem like something I am capable of. I do try to ask others in my small circle if they think whatever I'm experiencing is a delusion or hallucination or real if I am not sure. I try to err on the side of caution and listen to them.


You are right about the distraction only working for so long. At least it does help for a while. Thank you for your kind response.

Thanks EM. I put on an audio book to work on the scanning project and it did help but I ran out of disk space on my computer so I messaged the tech guy. It doesn't help that my computer is a dinosaur and I have loads of old programs that could be taken off my computer if someone told me how to do it. But the audio book did help process the time spent on the dreaded scanning project.

I know I'm early, but Happy New Year y'all!

Goodbye EU

It's still about nine hours away in my time zone but Happy New Year! I won't be awake to see the new year in so I have to celebrate now. I do plan on having cheese, summer sausage, and crackers tomorrow as a bit of a party with my father for the New Years. Mom doesn't like that stuff.

SK - can you download audiobooks to your phone? Hoopla and Overdrive (I think) are two apps that are free and connected to your library

Wow! Ts are stupid. I have a fb friend who has a local therapist as a friend who posted a photo of herself in a covid hotspot without a mask. Why would you leave a state with low covid numbers and visit a hotspot city? One of the comments asked if she will self isolate on coming back she hasnt replied and thatbwas 5 days ago.

Hello couchies, long time no see! Just stopping in to wish everyone a Happy New Year!

Man, I forgot NYE fireworks were a thing. About jumped out of my skin when the neighbors started in with them.

I’m amusing myself waiting for midnight by finding charities to give my latest stimulus payment to.

I was annoyed. They started at 6.30pm where I am and kept going until 9pm when I called it a night. Then the people upstairs started their party.

Which ones did you decide on?

Happy New Year couchies! I am sending out wishes for peace and wholeness to all.


and anti-hugs to those who prefer.

Bah. I have to work tonight and tomorrow night because I'm on backup call and the originally-scheduled person is sick.

At least I got to spend last night with the boy and a bottle of champagne! We watched Soul (which was really really good!) and he cooked