Posted by llurpsienoodle on June 11, 2008, at 7:09:04
In reply to Re: any non-drug ways to deal with voices? » med_empowered, posted by Phillipa on June 11, 2008, at 0:18:47
Hi med,
welcome to this board!
I have a few questions for you
1) at the time of the voices, can you recognize them as being figments of your mind?2) do you have a therapist presently?
I would suggest doing some grounding exercises. These things are designed to bring you back to the here and now. Some things to try are holding onto ice cubes and really focusing on the pain; eating something mindfully, paying attn to the textures, aromas, etc; taking a shower or bath (mindfully, again).
Another approach would be thought-stopping. My T is really into this approach. He has been known to encourage me to get into some frame of mind (I tend to dissociate) and then he'll say something like "STOP IT" and that will help me return to the present. Sounds mean, but I'm prepared in advance, and it really seems to work.
I tend to hear voices when I'm under stress, or when I've let my consciousness down. So, for me the main thing is to stay happily busy and not to freak out when I start to hear things-- it usually means I'm tired, for example, or dissociating.
take care,
-Ll
poster:llurpsienoodle
thread:834058
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/psycho/20080524/msgs/834115.html