Emma's Example
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Just before my grandson's fifth birthday, I decided to take him on a bus tour to see the "Aladdin on Ice" Ice Capades at the Joe Louis Arena in Detroit. As the day came closer, I began to work myself up. My symptoms were tightness in my chest, tenseness in my shoulders, and racing thoughts. I was afraid that I would have a panic attack, that I would be unable to find our seats in the arena, or would become lost and unable to find our way back to the bus. I began to do some spotting. I spotted that I could take things in part acts. My feelings were not facts, they were lying to me, just because I thought I couldn't handle the trip didn't mean I couldn't. I could face my fear and my fear would go away. I endorsed my self for being group minded. Before Recovery, I would never even have considered such a trip. If I had, I probably would have backed out before the time came and then would have a lot of fearful temper for causing disappointment for others. I would have had plenty of self blame, self doubt, and feelings of guilt. The fearful temper would have kept me in symptoms such as, fatigue, lowered feelings, anticipation of more failures and panics for days. Further Spotting! Dale -- I spot that Emma had the will to bear discomfort when she decided to face her fear. She proved to her brain there was no danger when she followed through. Bob -- I spot that when we have fearful anticipation it is usually worse than the actual event. I liked the way she spotted that she could take things in part acts. This helps to make things less overwhelming. Ann -- She endorsed herself for being group minded. By moving her muscles and doing the thing she feared to do, she is gaining self respect. George -- I think somewhere Dr. Low wrote that every act of self control leads to a measure of self respect. What does that mean? part acts -- doing things "one step at a time". group minded-- thinking of others instead of oneself; often in spite of how one is feeling, such as Emma demonstrated in this example by thinking about doing something for her son, in spite of her own fears.
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