Dealing with rumination and obsessive thinking.

Boat Babe · September 19, 2021, 03:31:28 AM

Hey everyone. I have been working on mindful self compassion for about a year since stumbling across it in my healing journey and highly recommend it.
I surprised myself when I applied the technique to some obsessive thinking that is plaguing me at the moment. Well, strap me to a donkey and call me Doris! It works for that too.

Anyone else use MSC here?

Andeza · September 19, 2021, 03:47:27 AM

Hmm, I suppose that might be the name of what I do. Not really sure. There wasn't a whole lot of explanation for this school of thought online to explain what it is exactly. Any time I'm stuck in a loop, I tell myself something I learned from a YouTube video three or four years ago.

I made the best decision I could, with the information I had, in that moment. So I validate the decision and reassure myself that I did do my best in that moment. Therefore, if I had that moment in time to repeat, it would turn out the same way. So then all the scenarios in my head become pointless and the nonstop ruminating... stops.

Lauren17 · September 20, 2021, 09:02:56 AM

Boat Babe,
Please explain this technique. Maybe a link?
I've been internet surfing trying to find help with this. My brain is constantly explaining all the terrible things uNPDh has done over the years. Or listing off all the ways he might lash out in the future. Or it's having detailed, imaginary conversations with him.
I'm so immersed in the the loop, I'm not able to give myself a pep talk.
Any ideas how to break the loop? Need to do that before I can keep it at bay.

Penny Lane · September 20, 2021, 09:05:07 AM

Quote from: Andeza on September 19, 2021, 03:47:27 AM
I made the best decision I could, with the information I had, in that moment.

This is exactly my mantra too! It's very helpful in a variety of situations.

Boat Babe · September 20, 2021, 11:47:28 AM

Quote from: Lauren17 on September 20, 2021, 09:02:56 AM
Boat Babe,
Please explain this technique. Maybe a link?
I've been internet surfing trying to find help with this. My brain is constantly explaining all the terrible things uNPDh has done over the years. Or listing off all the ways he might lash out in the future. Or it's having detailed, imaginary conversations with him.
I'm so immersed in the the loop, I'm not able to give myself a pep talk.
Any ideas how to break the loop? Need to do that before I can keep it at bay.

https://self-compassion.org/

I use the "self compassion break"

I hate obsessive thinking. It's like being kidnapped by my own brain! Let us know how you go. Again, it's really effective ❤️

Boat Babe · September 21, 2021, 02:20:50 AM

Quote from: Boat Babe on September 20, 2021, 11:47:28 AM
Quote from: Lauren17 on September 20, 2021, 09:02:56 AM
Boat Babe,
Please explain this technique. Maybe a link?
I've been internet surfing trying to find help with this. My brain is constantly explaining all the terrible things uNPDh has done over the years. Or listing off all the ways he might lash out in the future. Or it's having detailed, imaginary conversations with him.
I'm so immersed in the the loop, I'm not able to give myself a pep talk.
Any ideas how to break the loop? Need to do that before I can keep it at bay.

https://self-compassion.org/

I use the "self compassion break"

I hate obsessive thinking. It's like being kidnapped by my own brain! Let us know how you go. Again, it's really effective ❤️

Also, it's a circuit breaker, not a permanent, one off event. I have to use it a lot, but I am finding that it continues to work and I am slowly turning this crap around. Hugs.

Simon · September 22, 2021, 04:16:04 PM

I'm very familiar with mindfullness (I've meditated for years), but I've never heard of mindful self compassion before.

It makes perfect sense.
Mindfullness allows you to acknowledge the feelings and the constant barrage from the inner critic, and the self-compassion helps to quieten the inner critic with a series of self-soothing techniques and affirmations.
Interesting.

I'm going to research this a bit more.
Thanks "Doris".

Jolie40 · September 23, 2021, 05:20:26 AM

I took the quiz and came up high (4.17) on self-compassion

since becoming a parent, know that I changed a lot
giving our child a childhood that I'd have liked to have had myself has given me a lot of joy
it's erased some of the pain from my childhood/cut down ruminations

giving of myself to our child has increased giving to myself, also
one example- I like soft clothes & now only buy something for myself that is soft
husband/child know that, also & bought me the softest pjs last Christmas