Can't determine thought

[Rhasslariel]

Is anyone else having trouble isolating the thought that's producing the anxiety or depression? Throughout the day, I'll get an occasional surge of adrenalin or I'll suddenly feel a little down, but I can't determine why. I'm not thinking of anything in particular. It could be my subconscious is thinking something I'm not aware of (there are some things going on in my life right now) but if that's the case, how do I stop something I don't even know is happening? I can work on changing my conscious thoughts, but if I don't feel I'm thinking anything, what is there to change? Are these spontaneous surges just my body reacting to an old habit? Its very frustrating when I think I'm okay, but my body is acting differently. We're supposed to be tracking our negative thoughts, but while I know I tend to be a negative person, I can't pinpoint a specific thought to write down. Its more an overall feeling. Anyone else with this?

[Guest]

This used to be very frustrating for me too. I found that if I entered something in my journal everyday I could usually go back and find something that precipitated the negative feeling - even if it was a day or two before. You could try journaling not only your thoughts but also how you are feeling. I also just let some of it go and saw that if I calmed down about it, it usually would come to me later on when I was in a more relaxed state. Believer08 had referenced a body resistance that comes up. Makes sense to me that we could have a physical body resistance to some of this stuff. I think one of the sessions mentions to notice how your body is reacting physically. A lot of it also may just be due to the natural changes in body chemistry that goes on throughout the day. There are natural changes in adrenaline and thyroid that occur. (my doctor went over this with me one day when I was obsessing over my adrenaline levels lol)

[KCee]

I do write in my journal every day. That's a bit easier as its more like a recap of my overall day. Its the little spiral notebook that we're supposed to keep with us all day and write down each negative thought in, then a corresponding positive thought that I'm having trouble with. I'll feel a negative feeling: anxiety or sadness usually, but can't really place it to one particular thought. Anger is a bit easier. That's usually a direct response to something there and then. I know I'm dealing with a couple of situations right now, so those are in the back of my mind, but I've already written about those. If I go back to it later, by then I'm doing something else and I've forgotten about the bad feeling. I guess that means I'm actually getting better. I find I'm not dwelling on things quite as much as I used to. And if I seem to start doing that, I quickly distract myself with something. I'm finding that easier to do.