Mind-Body Workbook for PTSD by Stanley Block Read Free Book Online Page B

thoughts, but rather the depressor capturing that thought, spinning a storyline, and embedding the negativity in your mind and body? When your awareness prevents the depressor from embedding the negativity of your thoughts into your body, we call it befriending your depressor .
    Observations:
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    Day Three     Date:____________
1. Throughout the day, notice what situations (such as being alone, arguing, or making mistakes) and thoughts trigger your depressor. Use your tools: thought labeling, storyline awareness, and bridging awareness practices (using your senses). Can you defuse your depressor’s activity and return to what you were doing?
     
What did you notice today about your situations and the thoughts that activated your depressor?
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In what situations did you use your mind-body bridging tools? How did it go?
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2. Let’s do a Mirror map. Find a quiet place and look in a mirror. Before you start writing, really look at yourself for a minute or so. Next, scatter around the oval any thoughts and feelings that come to mind about what you see. Glance back at the mirror several times and keep writing whatever comes to mind.

    Body Tension:
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Is your I-System active? Yes ____ No ____
Do you recognize your depressor? Yes ____ No ____
What are your storylines?
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Do you recognize that the depressor’s activity is making you experience your body as an enemy and making you see yourself as damaged goods? Yes ____ No ____
What are your requirements?
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3. Do another Mirror map, this time using your bridging awareness practices. Before writing, listen to any background sounds, feel your body’s pressure on your seat, sense your feet on the floor, and feel the pen in your hand. Now look in the mirror and keep listening to background sounds. After you feel settled, jot around the oval whatever thoughts pop into your mind. Keep listening to background sounds and feeling the pen in your hand. Watch the ink go onto the paper.

     
How is this map different from your first Mirror map?
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Do you notice that the same facial features are on both maps? Yes ____ No ____
    Day Four     Date:____________
1. Do a How I Got to Be the Way I Am map.Around the oval, write how you got to be the way you are (for example, My father was never around , I survived repeated abuse , Mom was always there to support me ). Write for three to four minutes. List your body tensions at the bottom of the map. A sample map follows.

    Body Tension:
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What storyline themes run through your map?
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Next describe when and how often you use these storylines—for example, when you feel like a success or failure, when you’re sad or happy, or when you’re bored or busy.
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    Whenever your I-System uses stories, the stories keep you from living in the present. No matter what the content, storylines tense your body, limit your awareness, and impair your ability to function. They strengthen your false belief in the damaged self. Being more aware of your storylines lets your I-System rest so that you automatically start seeing yourself as much greater than you thought you were.

Sample Map: How I Got to Be the Way I Am

    Body Tension:
    “headache, stiff neck”
    Day