Rockford Day 7 Treatment Summary

7/30/2024
Day 7 summary at Rockford at the Orchards:
- Significant anxiety from an unknown source.
- Walk, ride, cleaned the car before leaving.
-Non-eventful drive & entry to the facility.
-9:30 Session started with 12 people in the audience and one on-line.
-Session started with each person given the opportunity to tell the group something unique about themselves.
- A.M check in process:
1. Current state-Still anxious.
2. Status of day 6 goal. As promised I took the first hour after the therapy session to review the common patterns of anxious thinking and coping mechanisms available to combat such thoughts. Satisfied the goal but didn't do a good job of demonstrating use of coping mechanisms during morning walk. No applause for me but just shows there is opportunity for me to continue to improve.
- Read thought for the day. 5 reasons putting yourself first is the opposite of selfish.
1. People you love the most love you too.
2. When you're burned out you simply can't enjoy the good moments in life.
3. Resting isn't an option, it's a requirement.
4. Pushing yourself past your personal thresholds can make you physically sick.
5. Energy transfer to the ones you love.
-Key take-away was that most people associate loving others with forgetting about ourselves. Because of this dynamic, we often build up resentments and frustration that go undiscussed (and can actually end up hurting the people around us without even realizing it).
-First learning module of the day was Understanding the Window of Tolerance.





-Coping mechanisms to use when in hyperaroused state.

·      Slow deep breaths.

·      Shaking or stomping out excess energy

·      Do pushups or heavy work.

·      Exercise

·      Play a team sport

·      Drink from a straw

·      Meditate

 

 

-Coping mechanisms to use when in hypoaroused state.

 

·      Physical movement

·      Describe 3 things you see in your surroundings in full detail.

·      Smell essential oils or other artistic activities

·      Paint, draw

·      Mindfully eating crunchy food

·      Stretching, yoga

·      Use heavy weighted blanket

·      Do activity that fully engages the senses.

 

-How to broaden the window of tolerance

 

·      Breath work

·      Guided imagery

·      Positive containment imagery. Place intrusive thoughts into a chest and lock it until ready to process.

·      Safe place imagery imagine yourself in a real or imaginary place where you feel calm and content.

 

 

-Module 2 challenging unhealthy thoughts.

·      You will probably be surprised by how much of your thinking is inaccurate, exaggerated, or inclined towards a negative view of things.

 

-A good way to challenge unreasonable thoughts would be to do the following:

1.     Questions that act as a reality check

·      What is the evidence for an against my thinking

·      Am I jumping to negative conclusions

·      How can I find out if what I am thinking is actually true.

2.     Questions that seek alternative explanations.

·      Are there any other ways that I could look at this situation

·      What else could this mean

·      If I were being positive, how would I perceive this situation.

3.     Questions that put things in perspective.

·      What’s the best thing that could happen

·      Is there anything good about this situation

·      Will this matter in five year’s time.

4.     Questions that are goal directed.

·      Is this way of thinking helping me to achieve my goals.

·      What can I do that will help me solve the problem.

·      Is there something I can learn from this situation, to help me to do it better next time.

 

 

Key takeaway from today

No fortune telling, stay in the moment.

 

Most impactful moment

Understanding that there is time between a thought and reaction make the right choice about what emotion to express. 

 

Day 7 Goal

  1. Study the window of tolerance principles to better understand how I can broaden my window of tolerance.

Concerns:

Loss of appetite.  More than likely will be meeting with the doctor on Thursday to discuss.  Not a major concern but certainly want it to be addressed.

 

Response

35 total hours of therapy and 9 doses of Abilify. Excellent progress with at least 3 more sessions before the program is complete I’m looking forward to further improvement. 

 

Post Rockford treatment plan started today with the first visit with my psychiatrist.  Very good discussion that led to questionnaires being sent to determine the exact diagnosis of my problem.  The good news is Ability appears to have been the right choice to adjust the mood but Citalopram may not be the right anti-anxiety medication.  Next appointment is scheduled for late August. 

 








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