Wednesday, February 22, 2012

Motionless Sitting…


It’s another GRAND mental fitness tool for reducing and overcoming any anxiety, from just plain jitters, to social anxiety symptoms, all the way up to panic attacks.


The purpose of Motionless Sitting is to learn to control our muscles and muscular impulses – which are common when we’re nervous. Those fidgety -type impulses: wiggling around in a chair, flapping our hands around when we talk, wagging a foot up and down when our legs are crossed, tapping one foot on the floor, thumping on something with our fingertips, repeatedly rubbing the back of the neck, etc.


Sitting still is an art which can be ‘learned’. And it’s called motionless sitting, because it’s done in a sitting position – not lying down in a prone position. Why? Because when we’re out in public – at church, at work, getting a haircut, out for a meal, on a bus, an airplane, and lots of other places we’re doing what we’re doing while we’re sitting down, not lying down.
And we want to train our muscles to be still and calm while we’re sitting up. Pure and simple motionless sitting teaches us how we can be calm, collected and poised when were out in public.


Is motionless sitting the same as relaxing? Slightly. It could be considered that. But, the way I learned it was that if the body does fall into a relaxed state -- that’s a pleasant side-effect. And I do know from personal experience, from the beginning you may not get into that state. In fact, from the very beginning, sitting still can be more uncomfortable than giving in to those nervous twitches. But don’t let that last comment of mine dissuade you from using this formula. Those repetitive actions which may seem like unconscious movements are only a habit, a habit that CAN be changed. Like anything else, it takes practice. Sometimes, lots of practice.


Another important point: If we say the purpose or intent is ‘to relax’. and from the beginning when you start using this motionless method and you don’t feel relaxed – it’s so easy to get discouraged, give up and decide ‘it doesn’t work!!’ Or, ‘that doesn’t work for ME’, or ‘I CAN’T do it!’


In this approach, you don’t need to feel relaxed to be successful – you just have to sit still. If you’re a rookie, start small. Sit still for 3 minutes. Then up it to 5 minutes. Remember - the purpose is to ‘command’ your muscles to be still, unmoving, at rest. If somewhere along the line you do feel yourself relaxing – that’s a bonus.


Motionless Sitting:
..... another way of teaching yourself to be At Ease & In Control.

P.S. A similar muscle control technique can be used as a ‘fall asleep tool’ at night too – and I’ll write about that in a future entry.

© 2012 Rose VanSickle ~ All rights reserved

Sunday, February 19, 2012

Here & NOW


So much ‘out there’ talks about ‘Being in the NOW’.


In my wellness process I was taught to handle each triviality as it comes along. I took that advice seriously.


‘Now’ is when the symptoms are happening.
So, ‘Now’ is when we have to practice.
NOW – not later.


Why? Because the longer we put off changing our thoughts – the longer we’re going to suffer. That may be ‘suffering’ a little distress: a bit of tension, some racing thoughts. Let’s call it a ‘little unrest’.
Or, when we put off changing our thoughts “Here & Now” the discomfort can (and usually does) get stronger and more uncomfortable. And, sooner or later that discomfort can grow and grow and grow all the way into feeling unbearable.


Practice tips for putting it into the Here & Now:
MY temper IS causing MY tension and MY tension is causing MY symptoms
(then get to work at neutralizing, eliminating or dissolving your temper)


Feeling confused??
MY temper blocks IS blocking MY insight
(then get to work at neutralizing, eliminating or dissolving your temper – which will clear your mind and allow different thoughts (the insight) to turn up.


If you’re using the mental fitness tool of moving your muscles to overcome fatigue, tiredness, weariness or anxiety, anxiousness, tenseness, just plain laziness, etc., bring yourself into the Here & Now by using this thought:
MY muscles ARE re-educating MY brain that there is no danger.
Or: RIGHT NOW, MY muscles ARE re-educating MY brain that there is no danger.


More:
To talk it up, is to work it up
Me talking this up – is ME working ME up.
Me typing this up - is ME working ME up.
Me texting this up – is ME working ME up.


And sometimes it’s just plain: To think it up is to work it up.
Right now, me thinking about how wrong or bad this is (or was), is ME working me up.


Bottom Line: We need to begin our practicing as soon as we feel discomfort (mental or physical) – when it’s Here & Now.

© 2012 Rose VanSickle ~ All rights reserved

Thursday, February 16, 2012

Personalize It


In my opinion, personalizing practice increases self-responsibility.
How? When I add the word MY, I make it mine – I own it. I’m responsible for it. It holds me more accountable for what I’m thinking, and how I’m feeling.


Samples:
Temper causes tension, tension causes symptoms
Better: MY temper causes MY tension, MY tension causes MY symptoms


Temper blocks insight
MY temper blocks MY insight


Anger is intellectual blindness to the other person's point of view
MY anger is MY intellectual blindness to the other person's point of view


This is trivial, a triviality
This is a triviality compared to MY mental health


Nothing is more important than mental health
Nothing is more important than MY mental health


Self-appointed expectations lead to self-induced frustrations
MY self-appointed expectations lead to MY self-induced frustrations


Humor is our best friend, temper our worst enemy
MY Humor is MY best friend, MY temper is MY worst enemy


This is trivial, a triviality
This is a triviality compared to MY mental health


Comfort is a want and not a need
MY comfort is a want and not a need


Excessive sense of responsibility
MY excessive sense of responsibility


Features and gestures speak
MY features and MY gestures speak


An insincere gesture of friendliness is more beneficial than a sincere gesture of hostility
MY insincere gesture of friendliness is more beneficial than MY sincere gesture of hostility


Knowledge teaches you what to do, but practice shows you how to do it.
MY knowledge teaches me what to do, but MY practice shows me how to do it


Endorse for effort not the outcome
I endorse for MY effort not the outcome


Muscles re-educate the brain that there is no danger
MY muscles re-educate MY brain that there is no danger


Nervous fear is the fear of discomfort
MY nervous fear is MY fear of MY discomfort


‘Making it mine’ moves the mental fitness tool from the realm of being simply a general statement, and reminds me of the fact that if I want to feel better, it’s MY thoughts I need to change. Because? No one else can do it for me.


© 2012 Rose VanSickle ~ All rights reserved

Tuesday, February 14, 2012

It’s NOT the Outside Things


We’ve learned that it’s not people, places, things, events, cars, tasks, our To-do lists, the government, our relatives, holidays, our bosses, our insurance company, the bank, or the weather that ‘give’ us our symptoms.
It is always our own personal reaction to ALL those things outside of ourselves. And our reaction depends completely on our thoughts, specifically what kind of thoughts we’re thinking.


It’s not Valentine’s Day (or any other day), that can give us unrest, or produce disappointment, or create anxious feelings – it is only and always our own thoughts that work us up.


Symptoms don’t come from certain days, symptoms come from fearful or angry thoughts.


Tasks we need to do or don't want to do don’t produce internal symptoms. Internal thoughts are what precipitate the unhappy feelings and unwanted sensations.


Outside events don’t generate internal symptoms. Internal thoughts are what bring on the unpleasant feelings and awful sensations.


The weather doesn’t set off internal symptoms. Internal thoughts are what lead to feeling cranky, crabby or depressed.


The proof? Two people experience precisely the same event - one person is adversely affected, the other person is not.


When we don’t like the response we’re having, how it’s making us feel, the solution is to change our thoughts.


Our angry and/or fear-filled thoughts produce our turmoil and commotion. Our different – more secure, more realistic thoughts - produce calmness, peace, harmony and even joy.


No matter what’s going on ‘out there’ it’s what’s going on internally, the thoughts we’re thinking, that make the difference in whether we feel good or bad.

© 2012 Rose VanSickle ~ All rights reserved

Monday, February 13, 2012

Messing With Your Meds



Don’t do it!
Don’t do it on your own!!
Don’t experiment on your own.

Whether it’s increasing or decreasing the dosage in any way –
don’t do it without consulting with your physician/doctor.
This is true for any medication, especially for psychiatric medications.


Why?
#1 – It could be dangerous. Very dangerous.
#2 - It could cause more symptoms, stronger or different symptoms.
#3 - Realistically you could end up feeling worse, instead of better.
#4 - You are not an expert when it comes to drugs.
#5 – It’s like playing games with your health.


If you want to cut back, stop a certain pill completely, or take a higher dose – talk to your prescribing doctor.
If you notice strong or unwanted side-effects
- talk to your doctor.


Always, Always, ALWAYS consult your professional.
Maintaining your Health - physical or emotional is a business, not a game!
ALWAYS!

© 2012 Rose VanSickle ~ All rights reserved