How to manage intrusive thoughts?

[TruthSeeker]

@Carpman I am working with a new psych doing brain spotting and having similar struggles. With enough outside approval from the psych and my willingness to see where the thoughts take me I am going down some very dark alleys that I have avoided for a very long time. Thanks for the positive support.

Exactly what is brain spotting?

 

[user27357]

thats a good question- I asked it here, @joeylittle put up a good post about it:
Anyone Have An Opinion On "Brain Spotting" Therapy Techniques?

So far I think it is more flexible than classic EMDR.

I haven't been led, I have been followed and coaxed back in line when we got too far off into the sticks. It IS like exposure therapy in that I am told it is OK to follow the thought paths and pushed along farther than I would go alone with my psychologist only calling me back when it is in his opinion too far, too much, more than we can handle today. EMDR the way I have been shown is more aimed, more worste/first trauma based, with the hope that all the rest will fall with the inertia of that big break that never seemed to happen.
I am new at it and still learning- still forming a strong opinion on it. I will try anything that has hope, this does.

 

[Freida]

I tried brain spotting.
Once
For about 60 seconds before it sent me into an on the floor hugging my dog panic attack

No idea why it hit me so hard, but T thought it might be because it was too unstructured and I have so much random crap in my brain that it couldn't settle on just one thing. :(

 

[user27357]

@Freida First time out? similar to my first EMDR session, turned out to be my counselors first session after her 2 days 3 nights Holiday Inn EMDR training. I laugh about it now, but she streeted me in a total state of WTF. I could have walked out in front of a bus. Lucky for me I knew I was F'f up and sat in the parking lot until I could drive home without alerting any suspicion;)

 

[TruthSeeker]

@Freida First time out? similar to my first EMDR session, turned out to be my counselors first session after her 2 days 3 nights Holiday Inn EMDR training. I laugh about it now, but she streeted me in a total state of WTF. I could have walked out in front of a bus. Lucky for me I knew I was F'f up and sat in the parking lot until I could drive home without alerting any suspicion;)

I remember those days....yeah....that's not where I want to go.

 

[Carpman]

I remember those days....yeah....that's not where I want to go.

before I started any emdr or brain spotting I had 8 sessions of stabilisation, my safe place was so Important, mine is fishing in Ireland, we are all different, so what helps one might not help another, what I do know we have struggled for too long, some cannot afford therapy or wait years for a appointment, what I do know is lots of the world are blinkered to the affects of trauma whatever type it is, Too long I was given meds by a gp and walked away hoping for a miracle, gps are general practitioners, It is not their fault, this needs to change, I want my kids to have the life I didn’t have, and to everyone to live in peace, that’s all I ever have wanted like you, If you only do one thing today, be kind to yourself, go easy on yourself:)

 

[user27357]

before I started any emdr or brain spotting I had 8 sessions of stabilisation,

This should be underscored for anyone that is thinking about trying this form of therapy- the skills of the therapist are everything when it comes to safety and outcomes. i don't know what it is like now but my HMO sent all of their staff to a training event and they all came back with certificates and started in. I was my therapists first shot. That may or may not still be happening. If you are thinking about it, I suggest you ask how long the therapist has been doing it and if it is new to them, don't go first. Practiced therapists will be sure you are able to get back to a state of mind that is safe by the end of the session and getting started may seem to be painfully slow, but this is important.

we are stealing this thread, like an intrusive thought.

 

[Freida]

@Freida First time out? si

For that ya. But id been doing emdr for about a year before we tried it. T was hoping it would get me past a block because she had been having success with other patients. But ya..it was a pretty new thing for her too lol

I think that's the trick with intrusive thoughts....you have to find a way to access them on your terms, when you want them, rather than them just randomly popping up.. It's the only way to be able to step back and really pick them apart when you aren't overwhelmed by them

If only it was that easy! :laugh:

 

[TruthSeeker]

thats a good question- I asked it here, @joeylittle put up a good post about it:
Anyone Have An Opinion On "Brain Spotting" Therapy Techniques?

So far I think it is more flexible than classic EMDR.

I haven't been led, I have been followed and coaxed back in line when we got too far off into the sticks. It IS like exposure therapy in that I am told it is OK to follow the thought paths and pushed along farther than I would go alone with my psychologist only calling me back when it is in his opinion too far, too much, more than we can handle today. EMDR the way I have been shown is more aimed, more worste/first trauma based, with the hope that all the rest will fall with the inertia of that big break that never seemed to happen.
I am new at it and still learning- still forming a strong opinion on it. I will try anything that has hope, this does.

The "calling me back part".....are you dissoci

before I started any emdr or brain spotting I had 8 sessions of stabilisation, my safe place was so Important, mine is fishing in Ireland, we are all different, so what helps one might not help another, what I do know we have struggled for too long, some cannot afford therapy or wait years for a appointment, what I do know is lots of the world are blinkered to the affects of trauma whatever type it is, Too long I was given meds by a gp and walked away hoping for a miracle, gps are general practitioners, It is not their fault, this needs to change, I want my kids to have the life I didn’t have, and to everyone to live in peace, that’s all I ever have wanted like you, If you only do one thing today, be kind to yourself, go easy on yourself:)

Only 8 sessions of stabilisation? Amazing....I had to loop back there a number of times. I do Shamanic Journeying, and incorporate my Sacred Garden, a safe place for me to deal with issues....and I have a spirit guide that is there as a protector, on all of my journeys....I find journeying really helpful and I'm able to process stuff there, by myself, and not spiral downwards afterwards.

 

[Carpman]

The "calling me back part".....are you dissoci


Only 8 sessions of stabilisation? Amazing....I had to loop back there a number of times. I do Shamanic Journeying, and incorporate my Sacred Garden, a safe place for me to deal with issues....and I have a spirit guide that is there as a protector, on all of my journeys....I find journeying really helpful and I'm able to process stuff there, by myself, and not spiral downwards afterwards.

I think it’s a slow process, I’ve had a few setbacks the last couple of weeks, sleep is so important, day at a time that’s all we can do, i run, I meditate, joined a running group, listen to speakers, good diet too, I think the little things help too, those little things became one big thing, I don’t drink, don’t do drugs, I used to do them a lot, nature if you can get out in nature, I love nature I always have, I follow people who are positive after hardship, I have friends who have struggled, we understand each other, it is so important for someone to really listen to you, I’m still having therapy now, it’s ongoing, day by day

The "calling me back part".....are you dissoci


Only 8 sessions of stabilisation? Amazing....I had to loop back there a number of times. I do Shamanic Journeying, and incorporate my Sacred Garden, a safe place for me to deal with issues....and I have a spirit guide that is there as a protector, on all of my journeys....I find journeying really helpful and I'm able to process stuff there, by myself, and not spiral downwards afterwards.

its still ongoing, for 35 years I was given tablets and told try these, not the docs fault as he’s a gp, I’m trying to take it day by day, I’ll have bad days, really bad days, I do a lot of meditation running, I’m in a running club, I love football and rugby, I love nature, I’ve kept all sorts of pets, chameleons bearded dragons, fish, I love music, mostly 80 stuff, and dance music too, I follow the positive people, i think emdr or brain spotting right now perhaps best not to do it right now, especially if starting, keep to stabilisation, I watch comedies, documentaries and nature, and a couple of good friends, you don’t need many, I learnt the hard way, this has all helped me in a positive way:)what helps everyone else?:)

 

[Recovery4Me]

I suppose at this point my neighbors know I’m crazy. During my time of trying to sleep, intrusive thoughts creep instead of sheep. So in the middle of the night, tossing about, I automatically shout out,” I’m out of here!” It seems to disperse that thought, make my dog jump and then I try to visualize a beautiful scene of nature or do a mental listing of gratitude.

Sometimes at night, several first thoughts may line up for voice, equipped with uncomfortable body sensations. Yet for me, it is part of the drill and better than night terrors or flashbacks. During the day, motion is my favorite when my balance is strong. A brisk mile or so walk in the crisp morning air with my dog in tow allows a form of meditation.

Loved this thread and reading all the feedback. Thanks for opening it.

 

[TruthSeeker]

I follow people who are positive after hardship,

I think this is so important, finding healthier positive people. Following people with lots of problems only lands us back in Dysfunctional Land.....where we were groomed to be a part of drama. We deserve a life without drama, friends to build us up, and say positive things.....and we deserve to have healthy relationships......can't do that by following the drama crowd.