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Democritus · 11-07-2006, 09:58 PM

First off, I'd like to thank everyone who replied to my query - they were all thoughtful, intelligent, and helpful responses, and it's great to know that these forums are bringing together such like-minded people.

I agree that there is this issue of understanding the nature of emotions: that they will come and go, that resisting them increases anxiety. I think the hardest part is separating the feeling of anxiety from the content of the thought. For example, if I worry excessively about my sister's health, it is hard to realize that while the issue is important (and theoretically worth worrying about), the worrying is not. It takes real cognitive control to step back from the situation and make that separation.

The other point I'd like to make is that once anxiety becomes a conditioned response, the physical sensations can appear a propos of nothing - and this then generates anxious thoughts (i.e. 'oh no, I feel worried - there must be something wrong [sounds of brain shuffling through thoughts and memories for little old Democritus to worry about] - ah, it's probably that'). When this is the case, 'accepting your feelings' becomes doubly hard, because you have to accept something that isn't genuine, but a feedback loop gone awry.

Anyhow, you've all given me food for thought. Or rather, food for feeling - thoughts seem to get us all into so much trouble!

Thanks,

D.

11-07-2006, 09:58 PM	#8 (permalink)
Democritus Junior Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Oxford, UK Posts: 3	Thank you First off, I'd like to thank everyone who replied to my query - they were all thoughtful, intelligent, and helpful responses, and it's great to know that these forums are bringing together such like-minded people. I agree that there is this issue of understanding the nature of emotions: that they will come and go, that resisting them increases anxiety. I think the hardest part is separating the feeling of anxiety from the content of the thought. For example, if I worry excessively about my sister's health, it is hard to realize that while the issue is important (and theoretically worth worrying about), the worrying is not. It takes real cognitive control to step back from the situation and make that separation. The other point I'd like to make is that once anxiety becomes a conditioned response, the physical sensations can appear a propos of nothing - and this then generates anxious thoughts (i.e. 'oh no, I feel worried - there must be something wrong [sounds of brain shuffling through thoughts and memories for little old Democritus to worry about] - ah, it's probably that'). When this is the case, 'accepting your feelings' becomes doubly hard, because you have to accept something that isn't genuine, but a feedback loop gone awry. Anyhow, you've all given me food for thought. Or rather, food for feeling - thoughts seem to get us all into so much trouble! Thanks, D.