Derek's Example
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| I awoke in lowered feelings, thought about how I had overeaten the night before, and began to work myself up. My symptoms were bloating in the stomach, my skin felt stretched, and I had nervous fatigue and lack of spontaneity. My racing thoughts were: "I can't face the day, I'm losing control, and I'll get so depressed I'll quit functioning." I spotted that I was sabotaging and that I had temper at my illness. I spotted that my eating was a symptom and that I was attaching danger to the situation. My imagination on fire suggested I was out of control. I spotted that I could take the day in part acts and face, tolerate and endure my symptoms. I spotted that I could control my impulses and that there are no irresistible impulses, only impulses are not resisted. I spotted that every act of self-control leads to greater self-respect. I also spotted that I needed to excuse rather than accuse myself, and that it was a try-fail, try-succeed method. I spotted my fearful temper in the form of self-pity and self-blame. I'm not wrong. I'm average. I spotted that instead of coddling my feelings and pampering my thoughts, I needed to move my muscles and change my thoughts. Before Recovery, I would have gone on a three-week eating binge. I would have stopped functioning and would have isolated myself. Further Spotting! Ann--Derek’s temper at the illness is common, but temper creates tenseness if sustained. Getting rid of temper is a big part of Recovery practice, and Derek did a good job of spotting his temper. Joe--I like how Derek spotted his sabotage. That's sometimes hard to do, but he saw how he was sabotaging his mental health by working himself up. Lee--I spot that Derek’s mental health is his supreme goal and is a value to him.
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