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Just One Little Spark

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  We make psychology sound way too hard and try to accomplish too much.  At least that’s what I think after all these years in practice.  Of course, there’s always the chance I’m just not very good at my profession.

If we could figure out a way to do teach people how to manage this one little change that goes on inside our heads . . . We would accomplish something worthwhile.  We can do long division in our head, it makes no sense that this one little thing is so hard without random help from outside ourselves. 

. . . It’s a dreary day, it seems like there’s too much to do   and as if time is dragging at the same time. . . You have no energy and you’re pretty sure there’s something wrong with your foot. There’s that cold virus going around, too.  That’s it. You’re probably getting sick, which is why you have the pain behind your forehead.  Not severe enough to lie down, but some caffiene stoked Excedrin is definitely in order. ”Maybe I’m depressed . . .” you’re thinking.  You reach in the fridge, pick up a lite yougart and check the calories.  “Yes! This new kind has 80 calories instead of 100 calories in your old brand just like they said in the ad!”  And you think this realization is A REAL THING. A difference worth chasing.  You have lost the will for a quality life.

Then the phone rings.  Good news!  A friend’s coming to visit, you won a fifty-dollar gift certificate,  or, who knows . . . a piece of the lottery. 

And now, you’re queen of the energy universe!  You have your EMOTIONAL GUIDANCE SYSTEM working for you. You know it’s the same dreary day . . . but wait a minute . . . No it’s not the same old day. Plans, plans, plans. Can’t take Excedrin or I’ll shoot through the roof.  Who cares about all those smarmy chores? You’ll do them later.  Better yet, you’ll do them now!

If managing this little perk up was easy–this country wouldn’t have a drug problem and I’m sure fewer people would end up ordering commemorative coins in the middle of the night.

My advice?  MUSIC.  At least that’s what I’m saying up front.  The truth?  I’ll have to get to know you better.

Why no comments?  Because I have met the devil and his name is SPAM.

Wired for Anxiety . . .

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  Before bringing on Part Two of the “Women in Therapy” incident which . . . deliciously . . involves many psychologists and psychiatrists bringing pressure to bear–

I wanted to mention a series of studies done at clinical centers where therapy is done using various biofeedback methods.  The couple or couple and children are seen together, each individual hooked up to blood pressure and pulse monitors, brave wave and skin response gauges.

The therapist or a family member mentions something that gets one person going.  The team watches gauges to determine which individual’s responses goes up in tandem with the upset person, who stays calm.  No big surprise to see that particular family members go up and down on a regular basis while another does not.  Through biofeedback we can measure the influence of the runaway EMOTIONAL GUIDANCE SYSTEM.

This is not about pathology.   A family is a coordinated emotional system in which each plays a part.  One person’s habitual lack of response could contribute to the “reactive” one’s habitual over-reaction.

No one’s the bad guy, though the most in-your-face person  will usually be nominated as the ”family problem.” 

Our goal is not to change personalities.  Remember, we’re just trying to get a little more toward the center of the herd.  (See Wildebeest post.)

Our goal is just to be a little less AUTOMATIC in our reactivity.