Black And White Thinking

[scout86]

@FridayJones , my T is pretty special, in his own weird way. I told that story around here somewhere else & shimmerz & I have talked about it some. Somehow, I like the idea of "colors" better than black and white anyway. But the funny part of the story is that I didn't realize, when he told it, that he was trying to imply this was one of my issues. There was a moment, days later, when someone did something, I wanted to kill them, realized that was inappropriate and so did NOTHING that a light came on. "Oh WAIT!" LOL

But somehow it DOES work better with colors.

 

[falling_wave]

I've worked on it a lot and still work on it everyday. Most of the time I can either hear myself Saying it or notice ok I'm upset and remember what I have been saying to myself. Then I try to turn it around in my head even if I don't believe it. Of course if im being really natural in therapy or something just coming out with my thoughts she catches me all the time. Sometimes she will stop me and tell me "that was a really negative thought can your think of another way you could view that". She reminds me I don't have to believe it and I start thinking more grey. My grey thinking bugs me too though. I want concrete answers not maybe because I can't put it out of my mind. The one thing I've found really helpful is journaling each night. It helps me sort out my thoughts AND I have an app on my phone that will remind me each day to rate my mood and then journal about it. Maybe see if it works for you?

 

[Recovery4Me]

Have any of you worked on B/W? If so, what strategies did you use? Do you generally need someone to point out the error of your thinking patterns? Any other thoughts?

1)Have any of you worked on B/W?
It is hard to escape therapy without a T assisting in this or even posting.:clown: An 15 week CBT course worked as well. So heck yes.

2) Do you generally need someone to point out the error of your thinking patterns?
No, too many people who volunteer in a speed of blazing light.:clown: I mean really, who thinks they are perfect: even therapist have asked me to assist them personally and we all know I have spent my life in sessions.:clown: lol

3)Any other thoughts?
Today, yes but do they hold any value?:clown: Just because, I know of a label or of a pattern of something (such as black and white thinking), I do not need to fuse further shame into my mistakes. Accountability does not equate with self-flogging fodder with more education. I am hoping the journey will lead to acceptance, tolerance and perhaps a healthier choice for the future. Perhaps a little more gentleness on self and for others.:hug: