Naa
Part of the problem with people who panic is because their brain is capable of doing more than it needs to at the time. It has been said that it is because we are smarter. Smart has nothing to do with it. Capability does. Remember survival skills are all negative in thought. Basically "what if's" If you are not fully occupied and on top of that you don't want to be there you will go to these negative thoughts. Everyone does it. Things like where is the door, how soon can I escape, how can I avoid talking to people. (been there, done that)
Visualization is one of those ways to use that extra capacity for thought that is getting us in trouble. You realize that part of what you do with the tea is actually a distraction that uses up some of that extra capacity so you don't use it for escape thoughts. Contrary to popular belief people can not do two things at the same time, there is a space between the thoughts no matter how small. So the object is to switch thoughts when a person starts to panic. In doing this the panic thought has to be dropped to make room for the coping thought. It kind of zig zags back and force as the panic thought tries to invade the coping thought. So it is best to get the coping thought in before the panic thought appears.
An example is when I had to go to a meeting about selling a certain product. All I had to do was sit like a bump on a log and absorb. Since I knew the material there was nothing to absorb. The room was hot and crowded and I panicked and had to escape. Physically, but I could have escaped mentally if I had of known how at the time. And if I had of done it soon enough. If I had of blocked the thoughts of escape with thoughts of how beautiful the trip there was or things I saw in a store I visited before the meeting, even thoughts of what some of the people I saw on the streets looked like there would have been no room for the escape thoughts and I would have been okay. Not great, but okay since this meeting was new to me and foreign situations always bring on some anxiety.
Another thing I used to do in store line ups was visualize the people around me as different breeds of dogs. Not only is this funny but it is a great distraction. If it doesn't work then visualize then in funny under ware. Or as dogs in funny under ware. Any thing to use that extra capacity for thought that is normally used for panic thoughts. In time it is not necessary to do it manually, you will think something pleasant all on your own. Because the panic thoughts are conditioning and CBT techniques like this one will change your whole way of thinking and the previous attitude will be gone, buried where it isn't accessible. It takes time to change thought patterns and attitude, but it does happen and it does work. Careful using your child as a distraction because as a mother you will naturally worry and this will set you up for panic thoughts, pick something neutral unless you can think pleasant thoughts like going to the park or a restaurant with your child. See this can back fire if you pick the wrong thoughts to concentrate on.
And if it only works partially, like the tea hang onto that thought that at least it worked partially and will work better next time. It will it just takes time to recondition your thoughts. And enjoy all that money and what you can do with it.
Davit
