It was a case of catch up for some after the Summer break and a chance to listen. Thoughts and how we are lured in by them was a topic of conversation. This subject crops up at group meetings quite often. The shear intensity of our thoughts manipulate mood and send our wellbeing into a downward spiral.
I have had the “pleasure” of experiencing intrusive thoughts for many years. I think I got to a point where I lost all perception that these thoughts were not “real”. Over recent years I have been coming to terms with the fact that they are not real, at the end of the day all they are are thoughts. They are not as “important” as I “thought”.
I've recently come back from holiday. In the past holidays were a big struggle for me, the endless anxieties and worrying thoughts of not wanting to go, the feelings of some sort of danger, the need to get home fast, then the low mood experienced due to having these thoughts and the frustration and confusion about why this, why me! However since I've caught on to the fact that thoughts are not facts, going away has been a lot easier! I may still have the odd twinge of anxiety prior to going, but this is usually around, I need to take this or don't forget to take your children etc, but on the whole, I can have a good nights sleep, the night before going away and no endless trips to the loo before we depart. Whilst away I still have the "thoughts" but I know that they're there through habit and it amazing how quick they disappear, I am more interested in what I'm doing rather than what is going on in my head! Of course having suffered for so long I am still working on my recovery, I'm not out of the wood yet, there are some things I still cannot do, but I am more confident now that I will be able to do them!
Don't forget Imogen Caterer is coming to talk to us all Monday 22 Sept. I have posted a really good video on our face book page that she has sent through to us, I will email this out as well as it's really worth watching as the speaker Michael Neill is really good at showing us how "thoughts" can mislead us!
Hope the week is good to you all!
Ruth D