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rebbieh
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04 Jun 2012, 12:08 pm

So the other day a friend of mine (who is a psychologist) suggested I start keeping an anxiety journal. Just wondering if any of you have done that and if it actually helps? Also, how exactly does it work?

Sorry if this isn't the right place to post this.

Thanks.



LabPet
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04 Jun 2012, 12:25 pm

By coincidence I've just now thought to do something else......a gratitude journal. I've read compelling evidence that keeping an ongoing daily log of things/events for which you are grateful can be really uplifting. These gratitudes do not need to be big, even just small observations of the day. For example, I wrote about a seagull that flew to my windowsill, tapping loudly on my window! That was neat.

Anyway, apologies that I neglected your post. Actually, I think keeping an anxiety journal might be counter-productive. I think that could fixate one onto anxieties. We all have anxieties to varying degrees - Aspies are anxiety-prone, as we know. I do think focusing on that anxiety is helpful. I tend to perseverate over when/if someone does me wrong. From my experience, fixating on that just makes it worse :( Occupying our thoughts with 'bad stuff' is hurtful. By now, you're probably hyper-aware of your anxiety, why elucidate it further? For individuals who are in chronic physical pain, the positively worst thing they can do is fixate on it. If someone is having a panic attack, for instance, the approach is to divert their attention. Etc.

Would you like to try a gratitude journal?


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rebbieh
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04 Jun 2012, 1:24 pm

LabPet wrote:
By coincidence I've just now thought to do something else......a gratitude journal. I've read compelling evidence that keeping an ongoing daily log of things/events for which you are grateful can be really uplifting. These gratitudes do not need to be big, even just small observations of the day. For example, I wrote about a seagull that flew to my windowsill, tapping loudly on my window! That was neat.

Anyway, apologies that I neglected your post. Actually, I think keeping an anxiety journal might be counter-productive. I think that could fixate one onto anxieties. We all have anxieties to varying degrees - Aspies are anxiety-prone, as we know. I do think focusing on that anxiety is helpful. I tend to perseverate over when/if someone does me wrong. From my experience, fixating on that just makes it worse :( Occupying our thoughts with 'bad stuff' is hurtful. By now, you're probably hyper-aware of your anxiety, why elucidate it further? For individuals who are in chronic physical pain, the positively worst thing they can do is fixate on it. If someone is having a panic attack, for instance, the approach is to divert their attention. Etc.

Would you like to try a gratitude journal?


I know I tried a gratitude journal or something similar a few years ago. All I remember is I was very impatient and I didn't really see the point with it or how it could help me. Do you know what I mean? But perhaps I should try it again.



drgoodietwoshoes
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04 Jun 2012, 1:54 pm

LabPet wrote:
By coincidence I've just now thought to do something else......a gratitude journal. I've read compelling evidence that keeping an ongoing daily log of things/events for which you are grateful can be really uplifting. These gratitudes do not need to be big, even just small observations of the day. For example, I wrote about a seagull that flew to my windowsill, tapping loudly on my window! That was neat.


Wow, I really like that idea. I think I'm going to try that! I've been wanting to get off of anti-depressants (since they always quit working after a year or 2) and that idea does make a LOT of sense. . .now I just have to focus on getting myself to actually do it (and no I'm not being sarcastic. . .)


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redrobin62
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04 Jun 2012, 3:05 pm

Gratitude journal, huh? Well, I guess I'm grateful to be alive. (I say "guess" because my soul is in pain these days). I'm grateful to have food in the freezer and a roof over my head. I'm grateful my TV and this Chinese iPad works. I'm grateful to have 12 guitars, a violin, an electronic keyboard, a tube amp and a melodica. I'm grateful to have a washer and dryer in my apartment. I'm grateful the water runs hot and cold. Even though I don't use it, I'm grateful to have a fireplace. I'm grateful for having the ability to write short stories and songs. I'm grateful for living in a neighbourhood that's actually not so bad. I'm grateful to have internet service so I can tell my troubles to World Planet. :)



LabPet
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04 Jun 2012, 3:10 pm

rebbieh wrote:
I know I tried a gratitude journal or something similar a few years ago. All I remember is I was very impatient and I didn't really see the point with it or how it could help me. Do you know what I mean? But perhaps I should try it again.


Yeah, I know what you mean. I guess if you think it helps, you could give it a try. Sometimes it's hard to realise the objective of something good (like eating your vegetables) but over time it makes sense. Journaling can be a good tool and it's a learned skill.


I guess I am grateful to be an Aspie on the Wrong Planet 8)


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