No such thing as patterns? - Al-Anon Family Group

Tash2 · Veteran Member

No such thing as patterns?

hotrod · ~*Service Worker*~

Hi Tash I hear you. I try to live one moment , one day at a time when I felt as you have described. I refused to dwell in the past or project even an hour into the future I used the slogans repeated over and over in my head to keep me focused and where my feet where. it helps.

milkwood · ~*Service Worker*~

Hi Tash,

I've done the same - if I added up all of the time that I've spent anxiously thinking about AH I would be appalled at my wasted energy! So I gift myself freedom from those thoughts, when I recognise that I'm having them! Funnily enough one of the ways that I found to channel my thinking in more positive directions was creative writing and after a while my driving 'down time' was taken up with composing characters or descriptions for the things that I saw while I waiting in traffic. I have also had to make a conscious effort to be very aware when I was driving - I would take a deep breath as I started the engine and tell myself to concentrate on the task at hand. As Hotrod says, staying in the moment helps a lot - it is amazing how engrossed I can become while weeding the garden these days!

Tracy · ~*Service Worker*~

Hi tash

I can so relate to your post years ago before al anon I can remember my boss telling me they did not want me to drive the works van as I was lacking concentration. At the time I was offended but today see that I had the racing brain this disease effects us same way as the A.

I remember being at a convention in the early days I was helping a old timer register then running round doing as much service as I could. An older timer grabbed me gently by the arm and said Tracy you know they say one day at a time sometimes we need to take one minute at a time. Again it went right over my head. I understand what she meant today. I was so worried, so over responsible my brain was either obsessing over my ABf or focused on something or someone else.

Today I have more peace and serenity my partner is active again and the disease is on the attack on my head again thank you for the reminder to slow down take it easy hand over the stuff I can not change.

In times of stress I really do need to STOP and checking with my HP and myself. When I am healthy I talk slow act slow I radiate peace. I know I am slipping when I become distracted speeeedy!!!

its then I need to think what is my responsibility really , what to I need to do in the next 5 minutes, hour at times like this even staying in the day is a challenge.

I hope this makes sense.

hugs tracy xxxxx

Debilyn · ~*Service Worker*~

I taught myself to be where I am. At work I only thought of work, if I strayed I would bring me back. when I drive i drive, same with everything in my life. If I am on my way to get the broom I do and I make myself go back and finish what I was doing. no do not pick up the blanket prudie dragged down, no do not wipe the counter off, sweep.

LIke today I do one job at a time till it is done.

MOst important is, I take a break like I am now. when I come in or whenever and I need a nap. I nap. now with kids depends on age. Mine as little I made them snacks and made sure they had things to do. Now i will take a nap wake at eight think it is morning, take shower eat some fruit.... feed etc then realize it is 8 PM. geez whata goof.

go easy on you. its ok to slow down. be where you are, concentrate on each moment. hugs

Tash2 · Veteran Member

Thanks for all your responses. I'm so relieved to know that others have experienced this too! I'm really conscious that I'm always thinking if the next thing I need to do while I'm already doing something. I really wish I could compartmentalise my life, something that AH seems to do so well! Going to try really hard to stay focused & in the moment this week. Thanks for the advice everyone xxx

neshema2 · ~*Service Worker*~

hotrod wrote:
Hi Tash I hear you. I try to live one moment , one day at a time when I felt as you have described. I refused to dwell in the past or project even an hour into the future I used the slogans repeated over and over in my head to keep me focused and where my feet where. it helps.

ohh this post related to me....not re: my car, thank god, but other things that show i am not paying attention, so where is my mind?? the past??? future??? letting some niggling thing bother me in the background???? it is soo hard for me at times w/generalized anxiety/ptsd, so i have to do what Betty here says.....slogans over and over and i have to use FORCE at times to SLOW DOWN.....focus on NOW.....a thing that helps me is to narrate what i am doing, down the the smallest details....and SLOW DOWN.....go slow motion if necessary........you are not alone............in support

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