Roll Call 202

Have you ever done any DBT exercises? Is a a good therapy for impulsivity. I use a lot of it myself. Cause I’m very impulsive just like that. I make huge rash decisions suddenly that screw things up. Like I used to randomly stop my meds, randomly impulsively decide to quite going to therapy and my psychiatrist, impulsively drop out of college, quit jobs , randomly apply to jobs I know I can’t handle etc all that impulsive stuff and indecisiveness. What helps me is as soon as I have an urge to do something like that I write it in my journal and then don’t think about it for a few days and distract myself with positive coping skills and wait it out cause eventually the impulsive urge goes away and I’ve saved myself a lot of mental pain by not acting out on those urges.

For example I used to impulsively end relationships all the time. I did this a couple times when my bf and I started dating a year ago but after a few months and 2-3 times of me impulsively breaking up with him then immediately regretting it and getting right back together, I made the conscious effort to act opposite my impulse and not even give it any headway. After the first couple months of us being together I managed to stop breaking up with him. So now we’ve been together a full 12 months on April 8th coming up. And I haven’t tried impulsively breaking up with him in about 7-8 months at least. Don’t get me wrong I still have impulses to do that due to my BPD traits but I’ve managed to stop that particular behavior.

I’m still working on the whole other impulsive stuff like not quitting or applying for jobs impulsively. Etc. and college.

Idk my point I guess is that it is possible to change the tendency to act impulsively. It takes a lot of work and a lot of consciously continually choosing to act opposite your urges over a very long period of time but eventually it gets easier and more natural.

I’d say maybe start with making a rule where if you want to impulsively change therapists or quit therapy try journaling about it it may make the urge less intense

I changed the RAM on my laptop by myself! It's up to 16gb now from 12gb, I will install the other when I change my battery this weekend, I just wanted to check and make sure I installed it correctly before putting both sticks of ram in and I need to open it up to put the new battery in anyway soon so why not. Once this is done I'll have 32gb total of ram and a new battery by this weekend And all done myself

Isn't it an awesome feeling like changing the RAM and stuff yourself? I always felt that way when I used to do it with my old computer. It felt useful. Haha.

Anyone know how to build concentration? I feel like I cannot focus on anything in particular.

For myself the main thing that helps is a consistent meditation routine. For me that means at least 20 minutes of meditation daily. And also putting my phone in a drawer or in another room if I need to focus on something else, those are the things that help me. I think there are studies that show that just having your phone in a visible location to you can reduce your ability to focus on what you’re doing

Anyone know how to build concentration? I feel like I cannot focus on anything in particular.

Psychedelic overdoses, dissociative panic attacks, rebuilding my whole life and mind from scratch, and constantly focusing on my heart beats for half decade.

I can now watch 3 hour videos without pause.

Oh and taking ADHD med as prescribed.

So the key is to increase mindfulness - BB is right that meditation helps greatly.

Funnily enough, I find that when I post consistently on this forum, or at least empty my mind of the thoughts that fill the void somehow, I can focus better. Anyway, so, the journaling technique works. I find it even better when I can actually talk to someone who understands, like here, but the journaling technique works very well as well.

That is awesome that you can watch 3 hour videos without pause. I aspire to be like that honestly. I cannot watch a movie through. I guess, unless, my girlfriend kind of tells me I have to or something like that. Ha.

I’m the same way. The only way I can watch something straight through without pausing a million times and getting distracted by tons of random things is when I’m watching something with my bf because it’s kind of an accountability thing. I’m obviously not gonna randomly start pausing our shows and movies we watch together a bunch of times throughout and going down random rabbit holes online or whatever. I feel like watching something with someone is the best way for me to actually focus on something all the way through.

I literally can’t watch a 20 minute show by myself without getting distracted and pausing and coming back 5-6 times etc

Hey guys I read your posts just don’t have much to say.

I’m doing good. Eight days sober. I increased my escitalopram last week and I feel good. Happy even. I feel together.

Course going well. I have three quizzes left but I have to wait until I get access to do them. Course ends near the end of April. Then I have to do another exam with this association to get the proper certification documentation for this one course. I have to do that for each of the three courses then I’m certified.

After that I have my insurance course to work on and study. Should be done that around… August or so. I have to take the exam between mid July to mid September. The study group runs from May until August.

Then! I’ll probably sign up for the winter term for the second risk management course.

So I should have both certifications by sometime next year. Three courses each.

I’m excited for the future. Advancing my career.

Only thing is I’m recovering from an ear infection and I have swollen lymph nodes under my chin. It makes me worried a bit and I have to keep an eye on it because I’m worried sarcoidosis is back. I don’t want to have another necrotic lymph node that needs surgery to remove it. Hoping for the best.

Still waiting for biopsy results for the lump on my arm. Should be in a couple weeks. Maybe they’ll have to remove it. I have one on my face too. Idk what they’ll do.

But I’m optimistic. Happy. Doing good.

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Omg I’m always on my phone when I’m watching something. I can’t focus on one thing.

Only thing I can focus on without looking at my phone is a war documentary lol.

I can’t watch YouTube because I’m constantly distracted. And I can’t listen to audiobooks either.

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