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miffysmom
8 Posts |
 Posted - 03/11/2012 : 17:19:55
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I have been attending RI in person for 6 months. While I have occasions of lowered feelings, which I now know are average, I have definitely made significant progress. When I started RI, I was engrossed in everything Dr. Low wrote and it really resonated with me. I have studied the method and believe it works.
Four days ago, I experienced lowered feelings out of nowhere. Since then, I have had anxiety, which is at its worst in the morning. My symptoms are shaky limbs, loss of appetite, heart palpitations and nausea. I keep spotting and have also made a couple of five minute calls and gone onto the online chat. I'm moving my muscles and trying to go on as normal, although I know I'm not feeling like my "normal" self.
I will be honest that I've also been asking if I've gone back to square one and have had fear of the permanent handicap on several occasions in the last few days. While I'm practising the method, I can't shake the fear of why and how I ended up here after such progress and return of spontaneity.
I am having a hard time with this setback, and it seems hard for me at this point to picture myself getting out of it. I'm looking for support and understanding on these boards. I thought setbacks happened early in RI training and not 6 months in. How can I snap out of this? |
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flmiller
137 Posts |
Posted - 03/11/2012 : 21:05:36
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Miffysmom is in a vicious cycle of symptoms and processing thoughts of danger. Processing the fearful thoughts causes her to feel more tense; the tenseness causes more symptoms and so on. However, we know that nervous symptoms are never dangerous they are just distressing. Once she drops the thoughts of danger she will become less tense and she will begin to get the symptoms under control.
Setbacks are to be expected regardless of how long we have been in Recovery.
She can endorse for spotting, moving her muscles and sending this example.
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SandyLane
251 Posts |
Posted - 03/13/2012 : 11:24:57
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I have been in Recovery for almost 4 years and I still get setbacks.
Setbacks are average in Recovery no matter how long you have been practicing.
Some people, including myself, have a hard time practicing the skills (like we usually do) during times of increased stress such as moving, bankruptcy, the dying of a loved one, illness, etc. Know that this is average if this happens to you at any time.
For every setback there is a comeback.
Try, fail, try, fail, try, succeed.
You may want to get a check-up by a Doctor if you have new symptoms since you stated that you don't feel like your normal self. Of course that's up to you. 
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oldtimer
1004 Posts |
Posted - 03/17/2012 : 15:53:33
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When we expect setbacks, we are not alarmed by their occurance.
Spotting means we do not interpret our experience in a way that does us harm. "...Sabotage or Really Trying?" contains the passion for self-distrust and some subtle sabotage. Yet, in ALSHS we do not prescribe perfect behavior, even in the practice of Recovery. |
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biglinda77
26 Posts |
Posted - 03/20/2012 : 17:51:18
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| I think that 6 months could, in a way, be considered 'early in recovery training.' After all, we'll (hopefully) be practicing it all our lives. We are students of recovery.:) |
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nevansw
17 Posts |
Posted - 03/27/2012 : 12:34:59
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I can relate to the fearful temper of the writer. However, Dr. Low teaches us to try fail try fail, try succeed. We must make our mental health our supreme goal even if we must command our muscles to do what we fear and hate to do. We must beware of all self sabotage for the sake of our mental health. We never fall back further than we have come. The writer may be sabotaging by judging her progress in terms of months. Even during our fearful tempers we can endorse for our efforts. Not endorsing can be a serious form of sabotage. She can take comfort in the fact that perfectionism is a dream and an illusion.
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Kathleen
1371 Posts |
Posted - 03/29/2012 : 14:50:37
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From the mouth of Dr. Low
Defeat After Victory- Learning to ignore the defeatist message of symptoms is a process that takes awhile to accomplish. It is a gradual but well proven process. It is average that after experiencing some initial success with a reduction in symptoms we relax and enjoy the return of our self confidence. Then when we least expect it something happens that startles us and we think we haven't made much progress. The objective reality is quite the opposite. We have learned a lot and we never fall back as far as we think we have. Once again symptoms tell the false story that we can't do things. Symptoms only make us feel uncomfortable. We actually can function quite well but it takes awhile before we feel more at ease with ignoring the defeatist babble of our brain. We can always take the secure thought that by moving our muscles our self confidence and comfort are restored. Perhaps not immediately but by tolerating our discomfort it does return. This is a typical process that thousands in RI can attest to. Patience and practice are required. It is a tried and proven practice that does work, take that as a secure thought. MHTWT
Your okay Miss Miffy! Your just an average nervous patient who has just started your apprenticeship...LOL! My leader will be be the first to remind me that when our symptoms leave we think they will never come back, and when they come back we think they will never leave. They are distressing but not dangerous and thy are phasic and not basic. It's hard to be a patient, patient when we are bearing discomfort in order to gain comfort. Change insecure thoughts to secure ones and move the muslces and you'll soon be feeling a whole lot better and again you will not be so fearful of your symptoms. This is where we really put into pratice being self-led and not symptom-led. Don't forget to self endorse for all your efforts regardlss of outcome because that is where you'll see just how well you are doing. Especially if you think about how you would be handling this before you had any knowledge of Recovery!You posted this and sought mutual aid and that highly ENDORSEABLE! Your not alone! |
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sillyme
311 Posts |
Posted - 04/11/2012 : 23:58:01
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| thank you for posting your questions. The replies from the other members were just what I needed to hear while in my set back. By the way, I've been in Recovery for close to 20 yrs. |
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recoveryfan
9 Posts |
Posted - 04/24/2012 : 15:39:51
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| My sentiments exactly. Kathleen, your response was very helpful. |
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Setback....Sabotage or Really Trying?
