Posted by Dinah on September 23, 2002, at 18:49:06
In reply to Re: addendum, posted by Eddie Sylvano on September 23, 2002, at 14:52:54
I've really sometimes wondered about the chicken/egg thought/feeling relationship too. Obviously sometimes thoughts produce feelings but more and more in my life I find that feelings produce thoughts.
I'm officially diagnosed as cyclothymic, and I find that I can experience the same things in different phases of my mood cycles and have completely different cognitive reactions. I'm also pretty good at thinking the "right thing" and believing it, and being rational, while it still has no effect at all on my emotions.
On the other hand, I definitely have triggers that must produce thoughts or beliefs (although darned if I can identify them) that send me crashing into panic or agitation. Rationally it makes no sense to me, but it happens nonetheless. And I look back later and say "What on earth?" Some sort of reptilian brain reaction, no doubt. Do thoughts precede the reaction? None that I'm aware of. So can experiences trigger emotions while bypassing thoughts entirely?
I'm confusing myself.
poster:Dinah
thread:1117
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/psycho/20020829/msgs/1125.html