Re: Re: Recovery Stories

[Guest guest]

<<Hello Lou's mind, Please allow me to remind you that it is you who is the illusion>>

SLAP...thanks, I needed that!You are most welcome, Lou. I did not mean it to be a slap; just a gentle tap

Helena

To: "ACT for the Public" <ACT_for_the_Public >Sent: Friday, October 28, 2011 7:22:51 PMSubject: Re: Recovery Stories

Hi Guys,This is a great thread. I love it when people start to have a group discussion and the online environment kind of makes me feel like I can interrupt mid-sentence and still hear you out. There was so much in this thread, I wanted to concur/respond/associate/give thanks...etc.etc.etc.***************************************************************<<I'm really stuck in the area of meaning.>> Me too. This is a recognised struggle at the moment.<<that younger self is still present and reacting to present circumstances as though I am still the little guy with an extremely attenuated repertoire of responses to threats perceived as life-threatening. I don't know if or when this will change. I can only do what I can,>> That's it in a nutshell I guess...nothing to add/omit.<<a prolonged state of a resigned, meaningless existence where I just went through the motions each day. >> *sigh* this is common.<<All of my responses are run through a filter of judgement>> This often sends me in circles of thinking and there is no resolution...it is what it is.<<I think the "ground zero" question we sooner or later need to answer is whether we want to live or not.>> Honestly, I say no. One poem I read started with, "Death, what a pleasure..." I'm willing to continue though and as my therapist once said, "...ha, well you don't do things by halves..."<<Zeitgeist>> German for "Time Ghost"?<<Music salves, sometimes>> yes, yeS, yES, YES! Slave me! Doesn't matter what you are on, a moment in life, alcohol, ganga (my lovely pot) or pharmaceuticals, music is its own potion...so is dance.<<I think they just get on with it, and push contrary thoughts to the back of their minds. I think it's called "keeping busy" - a nifty avoidance technique.>> Behavioural activation. Solace for the overactive mind. (values are the compass as I remember)<<just as my wife isn't replaceable>> It makes me feel really good when I hear people talk so genuinely about their partners, with heart. I've seen a lot of that by the people involved in ACT. That has meaning, even if viewed purely from outside the glass.<<My apologies, but this my last post today.>> Why do we feel like we need to apologise for being conversational? We all have our chatty moments, I know I do...<<Tea is unique because it contains theanine, a natural tranquiler that lowers cortisol, the stress hormone, as well as neutralise the caffeine>> That's interesting.<<I did get used to playing music sober and I'm sure I played better without the alcohol.>> I loved the way AND is used (instead of BUT), because it validates, "I did get used to playing music sober..."LouPS. Re: Where to go...?To the lovely Helena,<<Hello Lou's mind, Please allow me to remind you that it is you who is the illusion>> SLAP...thanks, I needed that!To my Learned Friend, Detlef,<<Here's how my day went.>> Thanks for the distraction technique. Sorry to hear that you lost all that info., that really does suck! With respect and warmth.> >> > > > > > > > > >> >> > > > > > > > > > Hi Everyone:> >> > > > > > > > > >> >> > > > > > > > > > Does anyone have a story of success or recovery > >> with ACT> >> > > > they could> >> > > > > > > > > > share? I'm feeling pretty stuck at the moment and > >> could> >> > > > really use> >> > > > > > > > > > some inspiration and hope.> >> > > > > > > > > >> >> > > > > > > > > > Thanks,> >> > > > > > > > > > Bruce> >> > > > > > > > > >> >> > > > > > > > >> >> > > > > > > > >> >> > > > > > > > >> >> > > > > > > >> >> > > > > > >> >> > > > > >> >> > > > >> >> > > >> >> > >> >> >> >>> >>> >> >> >>

[Guest guest]

Yes, that is good to recognize. I am in a similar situation. That's what's so frustrating for me. My depression seems to come from a place that's non-verbal and non-situational. If I could just drop whatever it is that I'm carrying, my situation would be good. The only real issue in my life is a job that doesn't pay me as much as would be comfortable. But that's a situation shared by millions of people.Somehow I've got my Struggle Switch, as Russ describes it, switched on all the time and I can't seem to budge it to off. It's a very frightening and frustrating place to be. My mind just goes right to the sad, the depressing, the melancholy and the feelings hit like a punch to the stomach.Your message is another reminder that there is much to grateful for. I am keeping a list every day of little things I'm grateful for.For me it's recognising that I AM living a valued life as a stay at home mum with a partner and 12 year old daughter. My mind is so quick to batch it all and not have to consider it, to be looking outside for value....mainly because my childhood experience was boredom, misery and terror in the family home...but the truth is, now, what I value is right here under my nose. I know this is a different situation to some but it's true for me.> >> > > > > > > > > >> >> > > > > > > > > > Hi Everyone:> >> > > > > > > > > >> >> > > > > > > > > > Does anyone have a story of success or recovery > >> with ACT> >> > > > they could> >> > > > > > > > > > share? I'm feeling pretty stuck at the moment and > >> could> >> > > > really use> >> > > > > > > > > > some inspiration and hope.> >> > > > > > > > > >> >> > > > > > > > > > Thanks,> >> > > > > > > > > > Bruce> >> > > > > > > > > >> >> > > > > > > > >> >> > > > > > > > >> >> > > > > > > > >> >> > > > > > > >> >> > > > > > >> >> > > > > >> >> > > > >> >> > > >> >> > >> >> >> >>> >>> >> >> >>