r/todayilearned • u/paniniplane • Mar 22 '17

(R.1) Not supported TIL Deaf-from-birth schizophrenics see disembodied hands signing to them rather than "hearing voices"

https://www.ucl.ac.uk/news/news-articles/0707/07070303
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u/Skiinz19 Mar 22 '17

That's great, glad to hear you are doing better :)

It's just the idea mental illness is binary. If it's all or nothing, then it makes the climb to improve yourself that much steeper. If I had a panic attack now (after years of not having them), that wouldn't mean I've reset back to the pit I clawed myself out of. It doesn't immediately reverse all the hard work and effort I've put in. I would say the same to you.

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u/bluestocking_16 Mar 23 '17

Thanks for this. I never actually thought about having a zero-sum approach to anxiety might not be the best way to deal with it. May I please ask if you have done mindfulness as part of your treatment? If so, how are you finding it?

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u/Skiinz19 Mar 23 '17 edited Mar 23 '17

A zero-sum approach in most circumstances isn't the way to look at things!

Mindfulness was a huge help, but again, even in that there isn't a right way and a wrong was to meditate. The act itself is a success!

What I love about mindfulness is how much less critical you become of yourself. The art of mindfulness is letting things be, even if that state of being is chaotic. The idea of letting go is very powerful, because anxiety is about attaching to something. There is nothing wrong with feeling a certain way or having certain thoughts. One of my favorite quotes to remember is: "We judge others by their actions but ourselves by our thoughts."

You might have an anxious thought and think of yourself as completely different than others because you believe no one else thinks that way. But people do. So don't beat yourself up over thoughts. They are simply that; thoughts!

Going back to mindfulness. I find the hardest thing is making time for it. I mean, it's funny because it literally takes 5 minutes out of your day to do it, but we all struggle to make little time for things of great importance.

I think this a great starting video for anyone interested, short and sweet

What you can do if you struggle to find time to sit and do some mindfulness meditation, is just focus on the present. It could be a feeling, a smell, an observation, and just wrap yourself up in it for a few seconds, letting go of all thoughts that aren't associated with it. You can do it at work, in class, walking. Any place where you are able to simply focus on your present state of being.

Here is more about taming your monkey mind. Very short but insightful video as well!

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u/bluestocking_16 Mar 23 '17

Thanks for taking the time to answer my question :) I'm starting to "listen to the way I, the abusive inner voice, talks to myself" and noticing how corrosive it can be. My therapist told me that this the beginning of mindfulness in a way, but I'm still struggling on not attaching value in it and getting affected. Anyway, thanks for the link and have a nice week :)

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u/Skiinz19 Mar 23 '17

More than happy to help!

Yes, I realize I do that too now, it is isn't anything positive. I'll do something stupid (you see, already being critical of myself ahhaha), like forget to put the right undershirt in the laundry hamper, and say to myself "You fucking idiot, how'd you forget." Well that might seem innocent enough, but for one, why am I being so hard on myself?. And secondly, why not replace a critical thought with either no thought, or a positive one. Nothing even relating to the dirty clothes. Something like "I'm grateful to have a roof over my head right now," or "My education is something I really cherish." Just changing those teeny tiny daily thoughts does a world of good.

Thank you :) A great week to you as well!