Re: Re: I stayed with anxiety, looked in deep and found something

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I didn't actually have any "conversation" as you did, maybe that is to come. I just saw very clearly this crying child looking at me with fear in her eyes and needing of understanding and love. I can see how people could read all this as "strange", but its very "real", I think its a very deep defusion exercise of areas which we try to hide from. It feels also a bit like we have made ourselves into a mindless robot-like tin-can monster, and you take it slowly to bits and embrace every rusty but dear part.______________________Signature: Mrs Em Equanimity This is my personal blog where I record my experience

applying Acceptance Commitment Therapy to my anxiety and agoraphobia in particular, and my life in general. Feel free to browse. http://eyeofthehurricane-act.blogspot.com/--- El jue, 7/7/11, experiential2010 escribió:De: experiential2010 Asunto: Re: I stayed with anxiety, looked in deep and found somethingPara: ACT_for_the_Public Fecha: jueves, 7 de julio, 2011 00:38

I have been watching this thread with great interest and curiosity because `visiting the younger version of yourself' exercise both crippled and liberated me. You are so right Ms Em, willingness to experience the pain of that child is critical because it leads to self-compassion.

When I first went there all I wanted to do was save the child, from others and from herself but of course that is absurd. When she spoke to me, she expressed empathy for the adult and it made me wake up somewhat, I didn't expect that! She talked to me about her experiences, that she wanted to say no because she didn't like it but had no power. I understand now, from doing the exercise over and over that it was me there, my body, my mind, my emotions...I'm still here, still my body, mind and emotions, now though, I have more power/choices. I became one.

I don't know if that makes sense to anyone else but that was my experience of visiting my younger self.

Lou

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> > > I was with some anxiety. I looked in deeply. I have noticed lately that where there is panic, anxiety, there is a deep urge to cry that doesn't surface but I feel it, its like round my sinus area (wonder if that is why I have chronic sinusitis). in ACT you are encouraged to treat your pain and fear like a child. The thing is, when I looked in deep into my pain, I have actually discovered a child. A poor innocent crying in fear, it was me, it was me as a child. And my first urge was of guilt, this child has been crying  for years and all I have done is found ways to turn my back on her! I felt the need to hug,to kneel down at her level,and I actually talked out loud as I soothed this crying child and cried myself. I felt like I was the grownup, and this unattended pain and fear the child. It was a painful and emotional experience, not too long, but Its still there, I can feel it with me. My poor darling me that

is still a child, I will be there

> for

> > > you. This time I will.

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> > > ______________________Signature: Mrs Em EquanimityÂ

> > > This is my personal blog where I record my experience applying Acceptance Commitment Therapy to my anxiety and agoraphobia in particular, and my life in general. Feel free to browse.Â

> > >

> > > http://eyeofthehurricane-act.blogspot.com/

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