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> Worrying involves repetitive thinking … without coming up with any solutions The problem here is not the worrying, it’s the lack of solution. > The ‘Just Wo

by dqpb 4y ago

> Worrying involves repetitive thinking … without coming up with any solutions The problem here is not the worrying, it’s the lack of solution. > The ‘Just Worrying’ Labelling Technique This is not really a technique, it’s just a thought terminating cliche. There are many possible thought terminating cliches. In my experience, rational techniques are far superior to thought terminating cliches.

ReactiveJelly 4y ago
I think it's okay to use thought-terminating cliches on yourself if you understand what you are telling your subconscious and why. E.g. politics isn't going my way this year? What can I do? Vote? Protest? Strike? Donate? I will certainly vote. I don't feel like doing anything else. Everything else has to fall under "I'm doing what I can for now." or "Yeah life just sucks huh" or something. Then I'm free to put that thought back down for a while.
dymk 4y ago
I think the linked poster is talking about irrational stressors, not ones you can talk yourself out of. Worries that stem from irrational sources sometimes can't be quelled with rational thought processes. We're more beholden to primordial stress responses than we'd like to admit, triggered by things which make no sense on paper. Social anxiety is a good example. Worrying about deadlines you know you're on track for. Etc. It makes sense that (some) irrational stresses can be quelled by sheer force of will. We have some conscious control over our stress responses, or at least can retrain the way our brains follow up to that stress response. It doesn't work for everything, but it's a good tool to have in one's mental wellbeing toolbox.
- dqpb 4y ago
  > We're more beholden to primordial stress responses than we'd like to admit I completely agree. This is why I don’t think thought terminating cliches are a solution. Our stress response is a policy trained over eons of evolution. We should honor it with real thought and real action.

by dqpb 4y ago

ReactiveJelly 4y ago

I think it's okay to use thought-terminating cliches on yourself if you understand what you are telling your subconscious and why. E.g. politics isn't going my way this year? What can I do? Vote? Protest? Strike? Donate? I will certainly vote. I don't feel like doing anything else. Everything else has to fall under "I'm doing what I can for now." or "Yeah life just sucks huh" or something. Then I'm free to put that thought back down for a while.

dymk 4y ago

I think the linked poster is talking about irrational stressors, not ones you can talk yourself out of. Worries that stem from irrational sources sometimes can't be quelled with rational thought processes. We're more beholden to primordial stress responses than we'd like to admit, triggered by things which make no sense on paper. Social anxiety is a good example. Worrying about deadlines you know you're on track for. Etc. It makes sense that (some) irrational stresses can be quelled by sheer force of will. We have some conscious control over our stress responses, or at least can retrain the way our brains follow up to that stress response. It doesn't work for everything, but it's a good tool to have in one's mental wellbeing toolbox.

dqpb 4y ago
> We're more beholden to primordial stress responses than we'd like to admit I completely agree. This is why I don’t think thought terminating cliches are a solution. Our stress response is a policy trained over eons of evolution. We should honor it with real thought and real action.