How to stop day dreaming about getting others’ validation and approval?

[I am healed]

This happens especially when my worthiness/self esteem feels threatened or with people whom I think are thinking bad about me.

 

[Friday]

Simple things are often the most complicated, aren’t they?

Personally, I’d continue what you already started; break it down into component pieces, so I can go after the components that make up the whole.

- Hypervig (overly aware/focused/judging what others are doing/thinking; classic abuse byproduct)
- Cognitive Distortions & Core Beliefs (Telling me what/why/etc. they’re doing/thinking & what that means about me/them)
- Anxiety (response to the above, heightening & spinning out about it; making the entire cycle seem both reasonable & a matter of life and death).
- Intrusive thinking
- Disassociating (Daydreaming) as a coping mechanism

Once I have an overview of the problem, I more often than not pick a piece in the middle to work with, first… as it lets me work in both directions (seeing what’s feeding it, as well as what it’s feeding). But really? Anywhere & in any order is a good place to start.

Whether it’s in the middle…

Primary cognitive distortions (negative thinking styles)

Cognitive distortion forms the backbone of PTSD. Whether you know it or not, all moods and behavioral patterns originate from your cognitions-- your thoughts. The first thing that happens is a thought, and then a mood or behavior occurs. When you allow an area of your life to become dominated...

www.myptsd.com

Solving the problem: reframing negative thoughts

How many times have you heard yourself say, "I can't?" Everyone has these moments. Problems can seem too intricate to solve, and challenges can appear too difficult to face. For people living with PTSD, there is an additional piece that will easily make anything seem impossible: negative...

www.myptsd.com

…or the beginning…
How to step hypervig back down to vigilance

…or the end.
Grounding / Getting present / breaking out of dissociation.

^^^Regardless of where I start? Once I have the durn pattern mapped out, as well as skills to use/apply, no matter when I notice I’m thumping back into the pattern? I have a solid plan for dealing with wherever I’m at.