Five lies my illness tells me...

This is exactly what I’ve been thinking about today but I don’t know the answer @Former-Member. I was thinking of posting something trying to seek answers.

Edited to say that one of the things I’m battling with is abandonment. The feelings outway the logic and even though I try to check the facts the feelings still win.

I can't list what my MI tells me, too hard, too triggering

Sometimes I can recognise that it is a lie, other times it takes hold.

To cope I have different scripts I read and use my safety plan and try and distract myself

I don't know if this will help anyone

@Former-Member

@Former-Member I really can't recognise the lies, too convincing maybe. I try distractions when it's not too bad like gardening, crafts, music, but when it's bad nothing works and I guess I just agree, there haven't been many other voices in my life to disagree.

That battle with rational/irational and emotional/logical can be so incredibly difficult @Teej

There's a real sense in what everyone's saying too that it's so so difficult to recongise the lies when they arise. Like any good story teller, our unwell minds need a good listener. And too often we feel like we have no other choice but to listen. After all, lies by their very nature are good at hooking us in. If only there was a way to sort of turn down the volume on the thoughts.

When the lies are particularly convincing or particualrly loud, some choose to notice them and accept that they're there, allowing them to move in and out of focus, without necesarily givig them too much attention. In that way, it free's us up to direct our energy and attention to thoughts or activities that are helpful - like following a safety plan as @Snowie mentioned, using distraction, like @Maggie mentioned, or just letting them play without reacting like @BlueBay mentioned.

This is a tough skill to build but for some people, it gives them a little break from tuning into the lies.

I think you've really tapped into something here @Former-Member I agree with most of what's already been said.

Lies:

• You're unloveable
• It's your fault
• Your kids are better off without you
• People think you're (insert negative adjective here)

plus

• Any number of variations on the catastrophizing theme

I find trying to counter these ideas nearly impossible and just end up in arguments with myself, my mind churning. The best way forward that I've found is to let it be; accept and recognize the thought but don't get caught up in it. This only works if I'm not too distressed and can pause in some way...not always possible.

@Maggie I also feel, like you, that there haven't been many other voices in my life to disagree. There are some people who fuel the lies. Shutting them out isn't always and option.

@Former-Memberthe issue for me is that the "lies" seemed to have almost become my normal thinking. Trying to break that is super difficult. I am not sure if I would call them lies. Are they lies when we believe them?

I believe what my mind is telling me, others try to tell me different. But those thoughts are so overwhelming, so believable.

I think I am rambling now

Oh no not rambling @Snowie. I totally get what you are saying and often feel the same. I struggle to know what are lies, what are thoughts, what is me, what is real?

i have so many proofs for how i feel/think and then other people (counsellors) dispute these and say that im too harsh on myself or that its experiences that have taught me to think in wrong ways but to me it still feels like truth and i have so many examples and experiences that match what i think/feel. so hard.