My therapist says... if you have a disorder (I’d call this an undesired response + occurring regularly), don’t apply any strategies, any self-regulating methods to meet the stimulus. Don’t try to lower the fear. Any safety strategies will likely keep it in place.

When you do any kind of method you tell your nervous system this is truly dangerous. You need to show your primitive brain that this isn’t dangerous: I don’t have to do anything.

…

This feels so right in me. What a relief actually!

It feels related to what Jordan said earlier, that naming safety creates feelings of unsafety, making us more aware of what could go wrong.

Similarly, naming trauma encourages people to feel into their traumas, leading to distress…creating the opposite of what is intended.

Showing up to a disorder with a strategy is like an invitation to experience more of it.

What do you guys think?

It's the littlest thing . . So this happened. . . How would you relate?

I recently purchased new kitchen appliances (yay me!). They were delivered today. Prior to their arrival, I had been sitting with a range of emotional states (from joy to fear to contentment, etc.) and body sensation that kept me energized.

When the new fridge and stove arrived, I felt my excitement again. Saying goodbye to the old, dated, dingy appliances was a joy. The stove looked amazing when it was installed. The fridge has french doors and bottom freezer, exactly what I wanted.

And. . . There is a noticeable ding on the left door of the fridge, subtle yet in plain sight! Yaaaaa! Everytime I see it (and it has only been a few hours), my body tenses up and there’s annoyance. I am told that I have 2 options, I can take $150 compensation for the ding and keep the fridge, or exchange the whole fridge (which means I need to take action and coordinate a whole new delivery). I feel frozen and indecisive. . . Which option do I take?, I ask myself.

It is really interesting how impacted I seem by this one little thing…. a ding.

How would you relate, if you did?