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Accomplishments and other Postive Things


13 years ago 0 6252 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
Red

That is how I would deal with PTSD if I had it. I have only two moments and only one has Dissociation. I have filled in the blanks in that one by looking at how my day would have been if it was a normal day and used imagination to fill in the blanks. I have also used comments to get an idea of what I might have done during those missing hours. The trauma was not major like a soldier would have but it was bad enough that I am missing hours out of a day. Now when something triggers a thought in that direction I get my imagined day instead of a blank. I'm aware that it is only how it could have been but it is better than going in circles around a blank. I do not know if I'm getting it back or if it just seems real from the repetition but it bothers me less now and feels more like a normal memory. It could be to that it was not true Dissociation but something I'm now more capable of handling thirty five years later. I do know that it comes and goes but does not get stuck and then circles.

Today was a two level day. I started in a good mood and accepted that I was not getting better. I went to town for my prescription only but ended up talking to a pharmacist for half an hour and got some questions answered. The pharmacy is in the hospital and it is good that I could park close to the doors since I could barely walk. I did manage though to not fall down and once home took the pain killers I could not take and still go to town. The day got better since this was the only thing that had to be done. Home support came and later I managed to get back outside for a bit. Pain level is way down and probably due to the positive attitude I have carried all day. It could be too that I am catching up with the meds. I do know that what I am doing has worked in the past so should again. It could be that is all. What does it matter hey, I feel good. Piling in more positives in my shopping bag. Tomorrow will be busy, I will need them. I'm hoping too that I won't need so much pain killer that I'm dozy. 

Hoping you are still using positives and resting when the load gets to heavy.

Davit.
13 years ago 0 2508 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
Hi Davit,
 
I find that the PTSD can be dealt with by using positive distractions..Replacing the traumatic pictures that replay in my mind with pleasant activities...For instance I like to look at magazines that have pleasant photographs of Nature..I also like to take pictures out in nature or of anything that is beautiful to my minds eye. These pictures help me replace the traumatic ones. I also find my sewing helps me. Looking at the fabrics, textures and beautiful colors replaces the traumatic thoughts with beauty and planing how to cut and put the pieces together occupies my mind. Gardening and watching all the flowers bloom is another one.  These are some of the positive ways I deal with the ptsd..This is what helps me...
 
Red...
 
13 years ago 0 6252 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
Hi Red

I have had some success converting the thread to PDF an then picking out the page I want.

It matters not as long as you get the idea. There are some things that will interfere with the process such as hormones, medication, second hand anxiety (outside influences) core beliefs (and there three parts, attitude, perception and belief) mood and emotions. But positive does breed positive so even if there are some days that are difficult they will still be a lot better than if they start negative. The other problem is Dissociation because there is nothing there. But in the case of PTS the missing can be filled in with information from the net or others so there is something there and it is an opportunity to make it less traumatic if time has gone by.
I hope this helps you as much as it did me.

Davit.
13 years ago 0 2508 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
Davit,
Thanks for posting this info..It is brilliant..It makes the whole process so clear..I hand copied your panic triangle for future reference..I wish I could of printed it..I did make an attempt to print this page and all your info, of course my laptop wants to print the entire thread which is 100 pages long now...Oh well no big deal I can always read it here on the site..
 
Positive thoughts build more positive thoughts just like you said..Like a magnet...and that buries the negatives and they go to the bottom of the shopping bag..Beautiful!!!
 
Today I am going to enjoying working on my quilts and tomorrow I have plans to go to a fabric yard sale one of the ladies in class is having..There will be lots of my classmates there selling there extra fabric..So it should be a fun time for all...
 
Have a great weekend visiting with your company and of course your Sweetie Sunny....
 
Red...
13 years ago 0 6252 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
Hi every one.

This is how my shopping bag analogy works. Your memory is like a shopping bag in that all day and probably all night too (I don't know) you keep having thoughts and adding them to the shopping bag sorting probably before loading but still piling them in. I think that they pile in order of happening but also attract similar thoughts to themselves like magnets. Now when you need a thought to dictate another thought or action you reach into the bag for something similar and appropriate and if all goes well and the top of the bag is full of positives you will find an appropriate positive one before you have to dig too far down the bag. I also feel that if the bag is mixed with both you will have some confusion and it will take longer to make decisions with the chance of them being negative even when that is not what you want. (anxiety or mild panic) Therefore it is best to start off positive and try to bury all the negatives that try to creep in. A person can I think discard negative thoughts easier than the sometimes negative, sometimes positive ones. Better to be consistent. A little negative is okay as a gauge of how good your life is. Just like a little anxiety adds spice to life. Just as long as there is some pleasure and positive to hold onto. The sound of a two cylinder John Deer can be exciting as long as you don't have to listen to it all day. Like train whistles. All things in moderation, even anxiety. 

But I think there are limitations to what CBT like this can do. There is so much negativity and unpleasantness around us that even CBT needs help in the form of a get away or calming tools and teas and for some, especially beginners, medication. What ever works.
Also if you have a deficiency it would help to repair it first so CBT has a better chance of working. Just please don't use that as a excuse to put it off.

Davit.  Forgot my calcium so I'm edgy now. Just my thing but it does matter. Besides it is late and I'm tired.  Still in a good mood though.
13 years ago 0 6252 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
Red

Okay this is too small to read. 

The left corner of the triangle is thought/action, the top corner is memory/thoughts, the third corner is reaction to the first two. All three work together except in Dissociation.

It works like this. Every thing you think or do passes through previous memory where it dictates what sort of reaction you will get and then it goes back to memory as future reference for similar thoughts and actions but also back to the origin where it dictates the next thought or action. Lets start with something simple and silly. You wake up with a full bladder. Before you can decide what to do the thought passes through your memory where your thought memory looks at your options and decides if you can wait or if you should get up. What you decide to do goes back to memory for future reference. As in maybe you waited to long or maybe you better get up in which case it goes back to the original corner and you get up or think it and around the triangle it goes again this time your memory says you better hurry and on till that thought or action is done with. This would be considered a neutral thought and would have neither a positive or negative effect, just something that is. 

Now something more complicated.

You wake up. (or any time, day or night, conscious or not) And you remember you have to do jury duty. This thought goes through your memory to dictate the reaction. If your memory is full of negative thoughts on this subject or anything at that moment it will find something negative to cause the reaction. In this case the thought, "I don't want to do this" along with a few others maybe. This thought goes back to your memory for storage and also back to the origin where it dictates your next thought in the circle which is probably going to be negative. Like getting up. As an action which goes through your memory where it picks up the most appropriate thought to control the reaction. Should you get up or not. Negative would dictate something like not till I have to. Especially if this is what you did last time. This too goes back to memory for future reference and use. If it bothers you enough it goes round and round till you either drop it, grab a pill or have a panic attack. 
All this because you have mostly or only negative choices in your memory. 

Now if there had of been some positive ones you would get a different reaction and a different reinforcement of your memory.

My theory is that if you start with something positive and happy then even if it is not related your memory will be set up to look for something at least neutral or more positive to form the reaction to the first place thought or action. As happened to you and me today.
And since each of these thoughts or reactions goes back to memory for future reference in similar situations next time you need a solution to a thought or action there will be a positive one available. And on and on reinforcing the positive and helping to fight the unexpected negatives that happen outside of our immediate control. I think over time a person could be conditioned to handle most negative thoughts that happen from outside influence or at least not go off the deep end into panic. Possibly even to taming anger in some situations.

Davit.
13 years ago 0 6252 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
Red

I have drawn the panic triangle on my cad program with explanations as to how it works but can't find a way to get it on as a document or as my ativar. If you could see this you would understand why what we are doing works and also why being negative about anything at all breeds more negative thought. I will keep trying to put it on as my ativar. My mac is not always happy dealing with PCs.

Davit
13 years ago 0 2508 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
Thanks Davit for the Congrats..
I lost my first post too and had to rewrite it also. This has happened to me a few times lately. I am not sure why. Its just disappears out of thin air..Sometimes I can rewrite it and sometimes I can't duplicate it. It doesn't seem to flow as easily the second time around and is just to tiring for me to do. Your thoughts on why you think your circle method works are important!! When you are rested I would like to hear your thoughts on this..Don't worry about it though it is not something you have to do now. Like you said it seems to be working for the two of us and like you I plan on continuing with the circle  approach because it is working..I am glad to hear that it got you through a rough day today..It will even be better on a good day..The thing is it seems to turn the negative into positive..So even a day that starts out bad can be turned around into a good day..
 
Red....
13 years ago 0 2508 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
Thanks Vincenza for the congrats and complements..and for taking the time to share in this success with me..Now I am off to have that well-deserved relaxing evening you mentioned in your post..
Have a good night,
Red..
 
 
13 years ago 0 6252 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
I just lost another post. 

It was not that long but I guess it was. It is close to supper time so It will have to wait to be redone. I will not let this little annoyance affect my mood or my anxiety level.

Congratulations on your success and thank you for duplicating my experiment which seems to work. The rest of the post was just my thoughts on why and not really that important. The thing is if it works then do it. I'm going to. It has got me through a rough day.

Davit.

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