Primitive conditioning that actually seems to work

[Sensei]

I have this simple theory that if I can stop caring I can cope with my problems and eventually recover, whatever that means. That's obviously easier said than done. I made a little experiment today, though. I tried to condition myself by saying "I don't care" to myself hundreds of times, possibly a thousand. Lo and behold, eventually I didn't care about my problems and didn't feel depressed or anxious, despite facing several triggers. I know that this may seem simplistic, stupid, and even childish, but it seems to work for me. In any case, I'll continue this little experiment and see if it works in the long run.

 

[DocNo]

it's amazing how active you are thinking about new strategies and also trying them.

your approach reminds me a bit of a strategy where you replace a negative approach to a more positive approach. so you start to say "i wanna do this" instead of "i have to do this".

i am wondering if it is possible to learn this way of auto suggestion cause for me it never worked.

 

[GenesAndEnvironment]

I did this but with a disinterested facial expression as an experiment a week ago. Worked pretty well, actually.

 

[Sensei]

it's amazing how active you are thinking about new strategies and also trying them.

Well, my life is at stake, so I have to be creative.

your approach reminds me a bit of a strategy where you replace a negative approach to a more positive approach. so you start to say "i wanna do this" instead of "i have to do this".

I'll try that too. I have nothing to lose.

i am wondering if it is possible to learn this way of auto suggestion cause for me it never worked.

I don't know, but I'm sure gonna try. Again, I have nothing to lose.

 

[GenesAndEnvironment]

You want to go for something like this

I did this but with a disinterested facial expression as an experiment a week ago. Worked pretty well, actually.

 

[Sensei]

I've done this two days in a row now and I do feel better, knock on wood. It seems that this kind of simple self-conditioning actually might work, at least to a degree.

 

[GenesAndEnvironment]

I've done this two days in a row now and I do feel better, knock on wood. It seems that this kind of simple self-conditioning actually might work, at least to a degree.

Update?

 

[Sensei]

Update?

Still working. I shan't pretend that it makes me feel fantastic, but I do feel better. I recommend trying it. The worst thing that can happen is that you will feel like an idiot for repeating the same phrase a couple of hundred times.

 

[Sensei]

I was downtown this evening and got really depressed by triggers. In my desperation, I remembered this primitive method and used it and I felt *markedly* better. Now I have to remember to condition myself every day. It won't solve any of my problems but it will probably make it a little bit easier for me to handle them, knock on wood. It's primitive but as long as it works I don't care.

 

[GenesAndEnvironment]

I was downtown this evening and got really depressed by triggers. In my desperation, I remembered this primitive method and used it and I felt *markedly* better. Now I have to remember to condition myself every day. It won't solve any of my problems but it will probably make it a little bit easier for me to handle them, knock on wood. It's primitive but as long as it works I don't care.

I'm doing a similar thing but with posture. Forcing myself to erect my spine when browsing SS, for example. This increases the energy levels and mood in my experience. Might make you more attentive to negative stuff, too, idk. Have you tried body language/posture stuff at all?

 

[Sensei]

I'm doing a similar thing but with posture. Forcing myself to erect my spine when browsing SS, for example. This increases the energy levels and mood in my experience. Might make you more attentive to negative stuff, too, idk. Have you tried body language/posture stuff at all?

This is new to me. I'm going to try it right away. Thanks!

 

[NeverGoodEnuff]

Yes, this works! And the other phrase I often use is, "I can do this!" Over and over. Usually when I have to go up on the roof or a ladder, as I do not do well past the third rung.

 

[H2H2]

"Love yourself like your life depends on it " is a book where the writer tries the same technique you are trying. He tells himself that he loves himself over and over again. He shares some variations of the technique in the second half of the book if I remember correctly. I read it like a decade ago, its a quick read, under 100 pages.

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Hope it helps.

 

[UseItOrLoseIt]

I'm doing a similar thing but with posture. Forcing myself to erect my spine when browsing SS, for example. This increases the energy levels and mood in my experience. Might make you more attentive to negative stuff, too, idk. Have you tried body language/posture stuff at all?

I second that. From experience, if you have the energy and will to get better, this is worth trying. Like Genes said, it makes you more attentive, but also receptive and may make you even a bit more confident. When I practiced it, the receptive part really stuck out for me. The contrast of me being slouched and looking at the ground vs. holding my head high and looking straight ahead. At times it really felt like the world was opening up and I was not at the center of it all. Which was a relief.

 

[GenesAndEnvironment]

Like Genes said

Please, call me gae.

 

[Sensei]

Please, call me gae.

What about JeansAndEnvironment?

 

[GenesAndEnvironment]

What about JeansAndEnvironment?

Already considered, funnily enough. I'm sticking with gae.