Re: Blood Test Tomorrow - Facing Tin Can Monster

[Guest guest]

What's the blood test for?  Cholesterol?

 

Going to the hospital for a blood test tomorrow.

This is the biggest tin can monster I've encountered in my life. I obviously have all the usual content going on, but I am also excited to get it done. I want to attack it and nail it. There's relief and excitement in there that I'm moving my feet towards this, it feels heroic.

I think it will be very cool to go and get this done. I've had two in my life, the first one I HAD to get, and the second was suddenly sprung upon me (which of course stirred my content up nicely).

I'm posting here for accountability - will post tomorrow, along with any amusing stories of throwing up, fainting or yelping!

[Guest guest]

I assumed Rich's post was about taking action in spite of his fear of something like needles, medical procedures, blood, etc. Not about the actual reason for the test, which is his personal business, IMO, unless he wants to share.

Hope I'm not being offensive, .

Helena

Re: Blood Test Tomorrow - Facing Tin Can Monster

What's the blood test for? Cholesterol?

Going to the hospital for a blood test tomorrow.This is the biggest tin can monster I've encountered in my life. I obviously have all the usual content going on, but I am also excited to get it done. I want to attack it and nail it. There's relief and excitement in there that I'm moving my feet towards this, it feels heroic.I think it will be very cool to go and get this done. I've had two in my life, the first one I HAD to get, and the second was suddenly sprung upon me (which of course stirred my content up nicely). I'm posting here for accountability - will post tomorrow, along with any amusing stories of throwing up, fainting or yelping!

[Guest guest]

Nice attitude. I'll look forward to tomorrow's postSubject: Blood Test Tomorrow - Facing Tin Can MonsterTo: ACT_for_the_Public Date: Thursday, 3 February, 2011, 23:08

Going to the hospital for a blood test tomorrow.

This is the biggest tin can monster I've encountered in my life. I obviously have all the usual content going on, but I am also excited to get it done. I want to attack it and nail it. There's relief and excitement in there that I'm moving my feet towards this, it feels heroic.

I think it will be very cool to go and get this done. I've had two in my life, the first one I HAD to get, and the second was suddenly sprung upon me (which of course stirred my content up nicely).

I'm posting here for accountability - will post tomorrow, along with any amusing stories of throwing up, fainting or yelping!

[Guest guest]

DONE. I showed up and got it done. What a rollercoaster though, here's some

thoughts on my experience:

Afterwards I didnt feel heroic, like I'd nailed it, etc, I just felt like I

juuuust about got through it and was battered and traumatised and bruised and

fragile. I dont feel any more willing to get one again, but looking back now a

few hours later, having done it, I'm glad I did, not because I feel like I

nailed it but simply because I can get on with living.

-I wasnt willing to sit and wait with the 40-50 people there and the

ticket+number system, and all the medical stuff/people around. If someone

designed a pathology department to stir up my content in precisely the most

difficult way, this would have been about it. I was expecting few other people

there and to just go in and get it done. I took my ticket and walked around the

hospital and came back in time.

-When it came time to actually do it, a part of me felt peacfully good. There

was a 1-second moment of stillness before the event, a " haha, here we go.. "

sense that has been there in my life before I do anything very difficult. Quite

spiritual actually.

-There was a hard core of " something " inside me that I wasnt willing to touch or

have. Something in the particular needly pain as they take the needle out; a

urge to cry, be sick, scream, collapse into a ball, hold my arm and sob,

something.

The pain itself is obviously not that intolerable - I've had more painful

procedures and experiences but theres some meaning it has for me, during and for

about 20 minutes after, that just felt un-have-able.

-I had a delayed reaction afterwards (actually quite common with needle phobias)

and basically fainted in Subway, getting lunch. This time, with ACT skills I

really let myself feel into it, more than I ever have. Aside all the immediate

physical symptoms (ringing ears, blurred vision, loss of stability) I let myself

feel as much of the depth of it as I could. It honestly felt like I was dying,

or my brain was melting. A warped vortex of sickly death energy, cold and

hollow. I sobbed and my right arm shook uncontrollably. Utterly terrifying

but also quite fascinating; the depth at which I reacted and seeing what was

down there.

Anyway, so thats that. As I said I dont feel any more willing to have another

one, maybe even LESS so, but dammit, I showed up and got it done and can now

move forward with life.

>

> Going to the hospital for a blood test tomorrow.

>

> This is the biggest tin can monster I've encountered in my life. I obviously

have all the usual content going on, but I am also excited to get it done. I

want to attack it and nail it. There's relief and excitement in there that I'm

moving my feet towards this, it feels heroic.

>

> I think it will be very cool to go and get this done. I've had two in my life,

the first one I HAD to get, and the second was suddenly sprung upon me (which of

course stirred my content up nicely).

>

> I'm posting here for accountability - will post tomorrow, along with any

amusing stories of throwing up, fainting or yelping!

>

[Guest guest]

You showed up. You let what needed to happen, happen. You didn't let fear or panic stop you.

Congratulations! That is really, really awesome!Helena

Re: Blood Test Tomorrow - Facing Tin Can Monster

DONE. I showed up and got it done. What a rollercoaster though, here's some thoughts on my experience:Afterwards I didnt feel heroic, like I'd nailed it, etc, I just felt like I juuuust about got through it and was battered and traumatised and bruised and fragile. I dont feel any more willing to get one again, but looking back now a few hours later, having done it, I'm glad I did, not because I feel like I nailed it but simply because I can get on with living.-I wasnt willing to sit and wait with the 40-50 people there and the ticket+number system, and all the medical stuff/people around. If someone designed a pathology department to stir up my content in precisely the most difficult way, this would have been about it. I was expecting few other people there and to just go in and get it done. I took my ticket and walked around the hospital and came back in time.-When it came time to actually do it, a part of me felt peacfully good. There was a 1-second moment of stillness before the event, a "haha, here we go.." sense that has been there in my life before I do anything very difficult. Quite spiritual actually.-There was a hard core of "something" inside me that I wasnt willing to touch or have. Something in the particular needly pain as they take the needle out; a urge to cry, be sick, scream, collapse into a ball, hold my arm and sob, something.The pain itself is obviously not that intolerable - I've had more painful procedures and experiences but theres some meaning it has for me, during and for about 20 minutes after, that just felt un-have-able.-I had a delayed reaction afterwards (actually quite common with needle phobias) and basically fainted in Subway, getting lunch. This time, with ACT skills I really let myself feel into it, more than I ever have. Aside all the immediate physical symptoms (ringing ears, blurred vision, loss of stability) I let myself feel as much of the depth of it as I could. It honestly felt like I was dying, or my brain was melting. A warped vortex of sickly death energy, cold and hollow. I sobbed and my right arm shook uncontrollably. Utterly terrifying but also quite fascinating; the depth at which I reacted and seeing what was down there.Anyway, so thats that. As I said I dont feel any more willing to have another one, maybe even LESS so, but dammit, I showed up and got it done and can now move forward with life.>> Going to the hospital for a blood test tomorrow.> > This is the biggest tin can monster I've encountered in my life. I obviously have all the usual content going on, but I am also excited to get it done. I want to attack it and nail it. There's relief and excitement in there that I'm moving my feet towards this, it feels heroic.> > I think it will be very cool to go and get this done. I've had two in my life, the first one I HAD to get, and the second was suddenly sprung upon me (which of course stirred my content up nicely). > > I'm posting here for accountability - will post tomorrow, along with any amusing stories of throwing up, fainting or yelping!>

[Guest guest]

Rich - You write of being willing to have another one. From an ACT standpoint, your willingnes is about being willing to have the feelings, etc associated with the procedure, or anything else for that matter. Sounds like you were willing and you learned a bit about willingness in the process. Build on this - slowly.

Bill

> To: ACT_for_the_Public > Date: Fri, 4 Feb 2011 16:07:05 +0000> Subject: Re: Blood Test Tomorrow - Facing Tin Can Monster> > DONE. I showed up and got it done. What a rollercoaster though, here's some thoughts on my experience:> > Afterwards I didnt feel heroic, like I'd nailed it, etc, I just felt like I juuuust about got through it and was battered and traumatised and bruised and fragile. I dont feel any more willing to get one again, but looking back now a few hours later, having done it, I'm glad I did, not because I feel like I nailed it but simply because I can get on with living.> > > -I wasnt willing to sit and wait with the 40-50 people there and the ticket+number system, and all the medical stuff/people around. If someone designed a pathology department to stir up my content in precisely the most difficult way, this would have been about it. I was expecting few other people there and to just go in and get it done. I took my ticket and walked around the hospital and came back in time.> > > -When it came time to actually do it, a part of me felt peacfully good. There was a 1-second moment of stillness before the event, a "haha, here we go.." sense that has been there in my life before I do anything very difficult. Quite spiritual actually.> > -There was a hard core of "something" inside me that I wasnt willing to touch or have. Something in the particular needly pain as they take the needle out; a urge to cry, be sick, scream, collapse into a ball, hold my arm and sob, something.> > The pain itself is obviously not that intolerable - I've had more painful procedures and experiences but theres some meaning it has for me, during and for about 20 minutes after, that just felt un-have-able.> > -I had a delayed reaction afterwards (actually quite common with needle phobias) and basically fainted in Subway, getting lunch. This time, with ACT skills I really let myself feel into it, more than I ever have. Aside all the immediate physical symptoms (ringing ears, blurred vision, loss of stability) I let myself feel as much of the depth of it as I could. It honestly felt like I was dying, or my brain was melting. A warped vortex of sickly death energy, cold and hollow. I sobbed and my right arm shook uncontrollably. Utterly terrifying but also quite fascinating; the depth at which I reacted and seeing what was down there.> > Anyway, so thats that. As I said I dont feel any more willing to have another one, maybe even LESS so, but dammit, I showed up and got it done and can now move forward with life.> > > > > > > >> > Going to the hospital for a blood test tomorrow.> > > > This is the biggest tin can monster I've encountered in my life. I obviously have all the usual content going on, but I am also excited to get it done. I want to attack it and nail it. There's relief and excitement in there that I'm moving my feet towards this, it feels heroic.> > > > I think it will be very cool to go and get this done. I've had two in my life, the first one I HAD to get, and the second was suddenly sprung upon me (which of course stirred my content up nicely). > > > > I'm posting here for accountability - will post tomorrow, along with any amusing stories of throwing up, fainting or yelping!> >> > > > > ------------------------------------> > For other ACT materials and list serves see www.contextualpsychology.org> > If you do not wish to belong to ACT_for_the_Public, you may > unsubscribe by sending an email to > ACT_for_the_Public-unsubscribe@...! Groups Links> > <*> To visit your group on the web, go to:> http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ACT_for_the_Public/> > <*> Your email settings:> Individual Email | Traditional> > <*> To change settings online go to:> http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ACT_for_the_Public/join> (Yahoo! ID required)> > <*> To change settings via email:> ACT_for_the_Public-digest > ACT_for_the_Public-fullfeatured > > <*>

[Guest guest]

"but dammit, I showed up and got it done"Damn straight you did. Inspiring. xSubject: Re: Blood Test Tomorrow - Facing Tin Can MonsterTo: ACT_for_the_Public Date: Friday, 4 February, 2011, 16:07

DONE. I showed up and got it done. What a rollercoaster though, here's some thoughts on my experience:

Afterwards I didnt feel heroic, like I'd nailed it, etc, I just felt like I juuuust about got through it and was battered and traumatised and bruised and fragile. I dont feel any more willing to get one again, but looking back now a few hours later, having done it, I'm glad I did, not because I feel like I nailed it but simply because I can get on with living.

-I wasnt willing to sit and wait with the 40-50 people there and the ticket+number system, and all the medical stuff/people around. If someone designed a pathology department to stir up my content in precisely the most difficult way, this would have been about it. I was expecting few other people there and to just go in and get it done. I took my ticket and walked around the hospital and came back in time.

-When it came time to actually do it, a part of me felt peacfully good. There was a 1-second moment of stillness before the event, a "haha, here we go.." sense that has been there in my life before I do anything very difficult. Quite spiritual actually.

-There was a hard core of "something" inside me that I wasnt willing to touch or have. Something in the particular needly pain as they take the needle out; a urge to cry, be sick, scream, collapse into a ball, hold my arm and sob, something.

The pain itself is obviously not that intolerable - I've had more painful procedures and experiences but theres some meaning it has for me, during and for about 20 minutes after, that just felt un-have-able.

-I had a delayed reaction afterwards (actually quite common with needle phobias) and basically fainted in Subway, getting lunch. This time, with ACT skills I really let myself feel into it, more than I ever have. Aside all the immediate physical symptoms (ringing ears, blurred vision, loss of stability) I let myself feel as much of the depth of it as I could. It honestly felt like I was dying, or my brain was melting. A warped vortex of sickly death energy, cold and hollow. I sobbed and my right arm shook uncontrollably. Utterly terrifying but also quite fascinating; the depth at which I reacted and seeing what was down there.

Anyway, so thats that. As I said I dont feel any more willing to have another one, maybe even LESS so, but dammit, I showed up and got it done and can now move forward with life.

>

> Going to the hospital for a blood test tomorrow.

>

> This is the biggest tin can monster I've encountered in my life. I obviously have all the usual content going on, but I am also excited to get it done. I want to attack it and nail it. There's relief and excitement in there that I'm moving my feet towards this, it feels heroic.

>

> I think it will be very cool to go and get this done. I've had two in my life, the first one I HAD to get, and the second was suddenly sprung upon me (which of course stirred my content up nicely).

>

> I'm posting here for accountability - will post tomorrow, along with any amusing stories of throwing up, fainting or yelping!

>

[Guest guest]

Thankyou for that Barbara, and Bill for similar sentiments.

Yes I suppose " nailing it " for me would have been feeling good, powerful,

breezing through it, appearing confident. Perfectionist tendencies coming to

the fore. And I spent alot of time working through the ACT exercise and

journalling before I finally tackled it so I had definitely been focussing on it

as this monumental thing to " conquer " .

But you are right, success is following through and handling what comes up,

rather than feeling a certain way. Thanks for reminding me of that. I'm now

excited about moving on with life and doing the things I was putting on hold

while I was putting this off. And that feels like a very real payoff.

Thanks for your thoughts.

> > >

> > > Going to the hospital for a blood test tomorrow.

> > >

> > > This is the biggest tin can monster I've encountered in my life. I

> > obviously have all the usual content going on, but I am also excited to get

> > it done. I want to attack it and nail it. There's relief and excitement in

> > there that I'm moving my feet towards this, it feels heroic.

> > >

> > > I think it will be very cool to go and get this done. I've had two in my

> > life, the first one I HAD to get, and the second was suddenly sprung upon me

> > (which of course stirred my content up nicely).

> > >

> > > I'm posting here for accountability - will post tomorrow, along with any

> > amusing stories of throwing up, fainting or yelping!

> > >

> >

> >

> >

> >

>

>

>

> --

> Barbara White, MFT

> Marriage and Family Therapist

>

> barbarawhitetherapy.com

>