Posted by Willful on May 24, 2011, at 16:20:43
In reply to vacation anxiety, posted by floatingbridge on May 22, 2011, at 16:24:09
One DBT technique that I've found extremely helpful is called "coping ahead." It basically uses the fact that people dread things and turns it around, so instead of just dreading the experience, you imagine all the things that upset you (or may upset you) and then practice what you'll do to cope.
Like, if you use meditation or relaxation exercises, you call up the situation in your head, and instead of focusing on the dread, you then meditate, as you would hope to in the situation, or practice whatever coping strategies you plan to use. So it's a chance to reduce anxiety-- as you make the imagining less and less fearful over time and also reinforce your skills.
I would try to see the dread as an opportunity to work on reducing anxiety, rather than a simple reexperiencing it, if you can.
I by the way found DBT to be so useful and helpful. I wish I had time to do it some more.
Willful
Emsam.
Abilify
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Rilutek
poster:Willful
thread:985965
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/social/20110517/msgs/986142.html