RE: crossroads [1 Attachment]

[Guest guest]

Hi Simone - My Anxious Brain was too glitzy for me - a sales pitch for Panic Puzzle. I like amygdala stuff because it helps me understand my anxiety. But understanding it doesn't help me when a funk shows up because the funk is so real, sometimes so real I believe the amygdala anyway, even when I know what's happening - maybe I better pay attention to this one as it may really be a tiger. When the funk shows up I had better have my ACT toolkit real handy and know which tool to grab. Too late for an instruction manual.I listened to the interview but didn't hear actually recommend Presta's products. Remember my banjo analogy? Books about learning to play the banjo might be important when I'm first learning how to play it - tuning the strings, which fingers for the chords, and some right-hand picking stuff. But if my goal is to make music I need to pick it up and play it.

My stack of banjo books is right next to my stack of ACT books and both

are impressive.BillTo: ACT_for_the_Public From: adrianandboo@...Date: Tue, 19 Oct 2010 15:58:04 +0100Subject: Re: crossroads [1 Attachment]

[Attachment(s) from Stolton included below]

Hi Bill -

No I wasn't even looking - I've given up on finding a quick solution a long time ago! I just happened upon this Rich Presto guy from someone on this forum a few posts back. I thought it looked interesting so I took a peek. I think someone posted a interview with Steve and it had come from the Panic Puzzle website. It looks good and Kosha.

Having said that, there is a familiarity with 'searching' for an answer and I've certainly been there and done that too! No, its ACT for me all the way - however I'm always interested to hear of new developments - after all thats how I came to ACT! If you have time read My Anxious Brain( have attached) and see what you think. I value your input.

Simone

To: ACT_for_the_Public <act_for_the_public >Sent: Tue, 19 October, 2010 15:09:47Subject: RE: crossroads

Simone - I have not done The Panic Puzzle. But what you are experiencing is certainly familiar to me. I've had ACT "under my belt" for almost two years and still experience the knee jerk reaction you describe. Even though I can see what is coming I still can't always catch it soon enough (defuse) so I just have to ride it out (accept). At the moment you recognize it, try defusing from it. It's (amygdala) your thinking self trying to protect you from life's dangers - as perceived by it. You need to use ACT to activate another part of your brain to take over when the amygdala is sounding a false alarm. If defusion doesn't work then accept it. A third choice is to try to make it go away and that just makes it worse. ACT provides all the tools you need to live a valued life. Did you go to the Panic Puzzle hoping to find a quick solution? That's what I used to do - when a funk came on I'd go buy another book hoping to find the shortcut. That's part

of the struggle, it is not part of acceptance, and your thinking self loves it because you are giving power to it. It feels like a double-decker bus full of very scary passengers.You know ACT. Just ride these out, that's part of ACT too.Bill> To: ACT_for_the_Public > Date: Tue, 19 Oct 2010 13:35:07 +0000> Subject: crossroads> > I feel as if I have ACT well and truly under my belt now - but feel at a bit of a crossroads. I am making decisions based on my values and my head & heart are saying 'yes' to lifes question. (I even had a dream where I was saying yes! yes! yes!) But what bugs me is that I make that decision and then when I am 'in' the situation I revert(sometimes) to my old history and avoid and backtrack before I've even had chance to reflect. Just a knee jerk reaction. So I go home and say to myself

b....er what happened there? Good intention hijaked by old familiar. And it's not just the unwanted auntie turning up but the whole darn family!> I was reading Your Anxious Brain by the Panic Puzzle guy ( Rich Presto?) and he talks about the amygadala hijaking your rational mind - and that is exactly what it feels like. Like I have become some robot who has only one instruction 'escape'. Like I have hyponotised myself into believing that it is dangerous, dangerous, dangerous.> My Head says yes, heart says yes - the body says NO, escape, escape escape!> I am getting somewhere but have hit this little hump in my journey.> Has anyone done Panic Puzzle? Is it good? Is it ACT consistant? Can it teach me anything new?> > Thanks for any input.> > Simone> > > > ------------------------------------> > For other ACT materials and list serves see

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