- Date posted
- 1y ago
Can someone answer this please?
I'm confused on this. We're told to sit with the anxiety, but wouldn't that be suppressing our feelings? I'm confused.
I'm confused on this. We're told to sit with the anxiety, but wouldn't that be suppressing our feelings? I'm confused.
No, when you’re sitting with the anxiety you acknowledge what you’re feeling, staying present in the moment, and not doing anything to get rid of it. Suppressing would be pushing away the feelings, using unhealthy coping mechanisms to deal with them (e.g., alcohol and drugs), and distracting yourself to avoid experiencing those emotions. Those are just a few examples.
Got it! Thank you for the explanation thus makes sense now.
Yes exactly what blazed said. "Sitting" with anxiety, or any emotion for that matter, is quite literally the opposite of suppressing your feelings. You're focusing your attention on them, and allowing them to be seen. This skill isn't only useful for treating OCD, it's something that is vital to us as humans. It's also something that not many people are capable of doing these days. Being unwilling to sit with difficult emotions is why people spend hours watching YouTube videos, playing video games, scrolling through social media, shopping for things they don't really need, drinking, etc. Perhaps you have the idea that by "sitting with anxiety," you aren't doing anything, and therefore you're being irresponsible. The opposite is true. Consider a parent that is dealing with their screaming child. They might try desperately to get the child to stop screaming by dangling toys in front of them, giving them a pacifier, or even getting frustrated and angry with them. While this might work some of the time, it only "kicks the can down the road," as they say, as ultimately the child doesn't really feel seen. That's sort of what we do with our emotions and compulsions. Instead, it's better for the parent to fully acknowledge that the child is in distress, and give them their full, undivided, non-judgemental attention until the child feels safe enough to calm down. It might take a little longer than the more forceful tactics, but it provides a much better relationship in the long run. That's what we're doing when we sit with our emotions.
Thank you for this explanation, while sitting with anxiety I'll keep these advices in mind. Thanks again!
I am so so upset and anxious right now. At this point I badly need reassurance as Im feeling a whole panic attack coming on. Has anyone ever had the feeling in their head and body like they are actually going to act on a terrible harm related intrusive thought like it actually feels like you are. Im scared as fuck i dont know what to do because What if i actually do that i am so scared does it ever feel like your on the edge of doing it and you get this whole intrusive urge in your body PLEASE REPLY please tell me experiences
I’m confused when people say accept your thoughts why would I accept the thoughts that are making me feel disgust and filth what if I start accepting them and then the thoughts actually become true?
Has anyone ever just felt weird? It’s hard to explain but I just feel weird lately. I usually suffer with harm OCD and I feel like lately I’m not reacting to things I normally would. There’s certain things that will trigger me a little but then other times (like over the last few days) it’s like I feel nothing. I’ll get thoughts and because I don’t feel the physical sensation in my chest or get very emotional like I normally would it’s weird to me. Does this mean I’m liking the thoughts now? Or like I’m comfortable with those actions happening? I’m so confused. Has anyone ever gone through this?
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