Step 11 : Faulty Beliefs and Distorted Perceptions

[unicorn2014]

I wasn't able to make it to my meeting tonight so might as well post here.

I feel like I'm all over the map in my adult child recovery.

I think tonight I am on step 11. I noticed today that I said something new to myself internally, I told myself if I missed the bus there would always be the next one. That was new for me. I'm always so frantic about catching the bus and today I decided to ease off the anxiety  and give myself a break. That's just an example of something I go through in my head.

I'm in the chapter about the hermit mother now.

[Kwamina]

Hi unicorn2014

I think tonight I am on step 11. I noticed today that I said something new to myself internally, I told myself if I missed the bus there would always be the next one. That was new for me. I'm always so frantic about catching the bus and today I decided to ease off the anxiety  and give myself a break. That's just an example of something I go through in my head.

Great that you were able to identify what was going on and modify your thinking

What you did here ties in with one of the 10 ways to untwist our thinking by Dr. David Burns:

Cost-Benefit Analysis: List the advantages and disadvantages of a feeling (like getting angry when your plane is late), a negative thought (like "No matter how hard I try, I always screw up", or a behavior pattern (like overeating and lying around in bed when you're depressed). You can also use the cost benefit analysis to modify a self-defeating belief such as, "I must always try to be perfect."

[unicorn2014]

Thank you kwamina. I've been working on cognitive distortions for years and something pushed me recently to really start applying myself. I think I'm just sick and tired of suffering and I want my life to be better,