Who wants to hear something weird?

[KKross]

Yesterday I was listerning to Lucinda's tape from The Solution and she was speaking with Shad Helmstetter about self-talk. I made a real effort to engage in positive self talk. As I was going to sleep, I repeated positive statements about my health, finances, etc. What is weird is that I woke up in the a.m. with a very high degree of anxiety. I mean, much more than I have had in a few years. I was able to get through my day and accomplished all I wanted to do, but I am wondering if the anxiety is in some way "fighting back?" Is the part of my psyche where the anxiety originates reacting to a barrage of positive thoughts? Just wondering.

[Island boy]

That's interesting for sure... I don't know the answer but I'd like to know if us negative thinkers dream negatively?? I wonder if our state of mind at the exact time we fall asleep is directly related to bad dreams? Do you remember dreaming last night?

[KKross]

Interesting point, Island Boy. I don't recall dreaming, but I wonder how my subconscious reacted to all the positive thinking.

[Lisa Hammonds]

Since starting the program in mid November 2010...I have gone through more in my life than I have since 2004. I have hit a bottom so low that its hard for me to function at work, drive, sleep etc. I did great for a few weeks...then all of a sudden the high anxiety had come back. The depression is worse this go round. I have not missed a day of work since 2004. Last week I could not drive myself in. I stayed home. Went in the next day and stayed until 3pm. Sunday was really rough. I made myself get out of the house. Went out with my mom. I am glad I did. As to the "fighting back" and "bad dreams" I do believe that our subconscious mind is fighting back with us. This really sucks. Maybe its change. You know people like us hate change. But I keep on trucking...hoping and praying that I have chosen the right way to deal with this. Good luck. I hope this helps you.

[Bill Sheldon]

I am absolutely convinced that we negative thinkers are prone to being negative dreamers. My dreams are almost all negative - failing a class, screwing up a work project, being late for something, embarrassing myself, etc. They usually disrupt my sleep, which is how I know I'm having them. My wife says that since I've started the program, I sometimes draw very deep diaphragmatic breaths and exhale loudly through my mouth during my sleep. I wake up in the morning very anxious just about every day, but 90% of the anxiety is gone by the time I finish my morning shower.

I think that the positive thought here (see, I'm trying to put Session 3 to good practice!) is that if the practice of deep breathing can take root at the subconscious level, then hopefully the retraining of negative to positive thoughts will follow suit!

[KKross]

Thanks, Bill, for you imput. You make a lot of sense.

Jill, how are you doing today? I hope you had a good week.

[KKross]

Oops! Sorry, I meant Lisa. I was just looking at another post. Anyway, I hope you are well. How's it going?