by
1. October 2008 18:42
One of the biggest things that I hear is how people with mental illness struggle with the practical part of living. Many of the things that we learn are great mental tools to help focus on the current situation. They are great for regaining control of your mind. The challenge is getting from the point of the symptom to the behavior that brings you back.
Mindfulness is one of the key tools to use in regaining some control. When I am in a depressive state, my mind is often filled with so many negative things. The thoughts fly at me with such speed, I can rarely remember three thoughts ago. I first have to catch the thought. I cannot control the the first thought, but I do have control of what the next one is.
It is so simple to let the thoughts run on their own. I have to jump in front of the mental traffic to stop one of them. This is not easy. It is possible. I had a conversation with another person about this and recommended he carry a piece of rope in his pocket. When the thoughts go wild, touch the rope. Think of it as a stopping rope of the old street cars. It was simple and it allowed him to stop the thoughts and start injection the positive ones.
