Posted by Dinah on August 12, 2009, at 23:51:47
In reply to Re: Distress tolerance, posted by Nadezda on August 12, 2009, at 22:27:35
> Definitely. This is something I use a lot-- and need to use more.
>
> Especially since I'm taking a short plane flight at the end of the month-- which is closer and closer by the minute.
>
> The DBT people have a lot of ideas about this-- distraction is definitely one of their techniques, but they recommend that you have a number of different ways of self-soothing, in order not to become too dependent on one-- for example, distraction which, in my case at least, often becomes an independent problem, if used too much. I don't see anything wrong with shopping (if you can afford it) or bubbles-- if they work. It's really about what works in the moment. What matters is whether distress tolerance takes constructive or destructive forms. So the shopping could be a problem on its own-- which would be a genuine reason to try to develop other strategies.
>
> Rocking, whether with or without a chair, would be a form of physical soothing-- using the senses, the sensation of touch in that case-- which is also a type of distress tolerance-- It can also be part of mindfulness, if you focus on it, and keep aware of all the sensations that are produced by it. Things like that can be the most effective in reducing distress, because it concentrates your attention on something else-- and in this case, it's rhythmical, and pleasant, or comforting in itself.
>
> So your approaches are all pretty much included in what they recommend. I haven't heard of mind smoothing-- but if it works, I'd say that's great.
>
> It's a great topic, though.
>
> NadezdaMind smoothing is a term that I think only I use. :)
Shopping is a very effective, but very harmful, method of distraction. I'd really like to substitute less harmful ones. Bubbles is a fairly innocuous one unless I play it when I should be working.
What do you find helpful? Is there anything you find helpful on planes?
I have to admit that on planes, I take medication, put noise canceling earphones on my ipod, and stare out the window at the clouds. When I went to England, I fell asleep instantly and slept all the way to and from London. That was a very comfortable plane though, by plane standards. And I seem to escape to sleep pretty easily.
poster:Dinah
thread:911764
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/psycho/20090730/msgs/911870.html