Guest guest Posted January 15, 2008 Report Share Posted January 15, 2008 I have been learning about ACT through the workbook 'Get out of your Mind.." As we all know, anxiety can be physically debilitating in addition to the psychic pain it causes. How can ACT best be utilized do deal with the intense, debilitating physical aspects of anxiety? Thanks Wayne Barnstone Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 15, 2008 Report Share Posted January 15, 2008 I’ve had successful ACT clients tell me in essence “I used to struggle with anxiety because I knew it was life threatening. Now I don’t struggle with anxiety because I know it is life threatening; and when I do struggle, I don’t struggle with that, for the same reason.” The danger here is that the mind justifies struggle on the grounds of realistic threat (“I will get heart disease! I will faint and drive off the road!) etc etc. But even if THAT is so, it does NOT justify struggle – especially since we know that experiential avoidance locks in anxiety just as a padlock locks a door. ……… But often it is not so anyway. Dig into that “as we know” part and you will find it is less certain than I’m guessing you may think. Remember all of the stuff about Type A personality and negative emotion leading to heart disease? By the time the researchers were all through we found out the effect was mostly due to suppressed anger. Anxiety accepted and anxiety being push away could function totally differently. So, let start with what we know. Is it OK to ask what the physical effect of anxiety is that you are speaking about? Has this been shown in the absence of psychological context? - S C. Foundation Professor Department of Psychology /298 University of Nevada Reno, NV 89557-0062 Office: (775) 784-6828 x2005 (don’t leave messages there … I mostly work from home, esp. now that I have a 2 year old. Email me instead.) Email: hayes@... Context Press (you can use this for messages): (for CP books go to www.contextpress.com) Fax: (775) 784-1126 (Dept’s … good but use a cover sheet so it comes to me) or use the Context Press number From: ACT_for_the_Public [mailto:ACT_for_the_Public ] On Behalf Of Wayne Barnstone Sent: Tuesday, January 15, 2008 3:53 AM To: ACT_for_the_Public Subject: Anxiety I have been learning about ACT through the workbook 'Get out of your Mind.. " As we all know, anxiety can be physically debilitating in addition to the psychic pain it causes. How can ACT best be utilized do deal with the intense, debilitating physical aspects of anxiety? Thanks Wayne Barnstone Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 15, 2008 Report Share Posted January 15, 2008 Thanks for your response- I truly am admiring your work as I read more. However, I am not sure this addresses my question. At times the physical pain of anxiety can metaphorically be experienced like holding too hot a cup of coffee- even if you don't struggle against it it is subjectivelt quite painful e.g. even eliminating the struggle doesn't mitigate the pain, no? Wayne RE: Anxiety I’ve had successful ACT clients tell me in essence “I used to struggle with anxiety because I knew it was life threatening. Now I don’t struggle with anxiety because I know it is life threatening; and when I do struggle, I don’t struggle with that, for the same reason.” The danger here is that the mind justifies struggle on the grounds of realistic threat (“I will get heart disease! I will faint and drive off the road!) etc etc. But even if THAT is so, it does NOT justify struggle – especially since we know that experiential avoidance locks in anxiety just as a padlock locks a door. ……… But often it is not so anyway. Dig into that “as we know” part and you will find it is less certain than I’m guessing you may think. Remember all of the stuff about Type A personality and negative emotion leading to heart disease? By the time the researchers were all through we found out the effect was mostly due to suppressed anger. Anxiety accepted and anxiety being push away could function totally differently. So, let start with what we know. Is it OK to ask what the physical effect of anxiety is that you are speaking about? Has this been shown in the absence of psychological context? - S C. Foundation Professor Department of Psychology /298 University of Nevada Reno, NV 89557-0062 Office: x2005 (don’t leave messages there … I mostly work from home, esp. now that I have a 2 year old. Email me instead.) Email: hayes@... Context Press (you can use this for messages): (for CP books go to www.contextpress.com) Fax: (Dept’s … good but use a cover sheet so it comes to me) or use the Context Press number From: ACT_for_the_Public [mailto:ACT_for_the_Public ] On Behalf Of Wayne BarnstoneSent: Tuesday, January 15, 2008 3:53 AMTo: ACT_for_the_Public Subject: Anxiety I have been learning about ACT through the workbook 'Get out of your Mind.." As we all know, anxiety can be physically debilitating in addition to the psychic pain it causes. How can ACT best be utilized do deal with the intense, debilitating physical aspects of anxiety? Thanks Wayne Barnstone Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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