Jane's Example
Last night I was out having coffee with some friends when I saw a couple I hadn't seen since I broke. I knew they knew about my mental illness. This is when I began to work myself up.I felt very self-conscious and flustered. I wanted to excuse myself and go to the bathroom until they left. I got scared and didn't know what to do. I guess I realized that it was the stigma of mental illness that I was experiencing and suddenly it came to me that I could practice Recovery.
I spotted that I could have the will to bear the discomfort of my thought and feelings. They are distressing, but not dangerous. I remembered to endorse myself for just sitting there and I did not have to be ashamed. I think Dr. Low talks about how no one is responsible for the ailment he suffer. The couple was my outer environment.
Before Recovery I probably would have panicked and jumped up and left the restaurant. I would have blamed myself and would have worked myself up, making myself more and more tense. I had more stigma before Recovery training.
Further Spotting!
Ann -- I spot that every act of self control leads to a measure of self-respect, and Jane did a good piece of work in controlling her muscles to stay seated.Bob -- Right, this is an especially good technique when it needs to be kept simple; control the muscles and spot that there is no danger.
Don -- I spot danger to the social personality when Jane saw the couple and was afraid of what they might think because she had been ill.
Carol -- Jane is really doing a good job of handling her own stigma by saying to herself that she did not have to be ashamed because she is not responsible for getting ill.
