Thursday, April 4, 2019, 5:30-7:00 p.m.
Today was another beautiful sunny spring day, and that helped a lot in fighting depression. The drive to Union City was a very smooth 25 minutes, making all the green lights, and not having heavy traffic.
When I walked into Building A, I noticed that, for the first time since beginning this series in January, the cardboards that had been duct taped down to the carpet were all removed. Of course! The elevators were fixed, finally, and all was well.
I stopped at the top of the stairs to take a picture of the hall just outside the group room. Then I checked in and waited with the others.
When we got into the room, I noted that there were 8 people—4 women and 4 men. All younger than me. Lisa did our check-ins and reporting on commitments. I said that, after spending 3 calendar weeks attempting to get in bed by midnight, I was doing it most of the time.
Lisa had written on the whiteboard the phrase we had ended with last week before the fire alarm and evacuation: “suffering = pain + nonacceptance of that pain”
She reviewed that CBT (cognitive behavioral therapy) is about catch and changing distorted thinking. Flashback to humanetics and “distortions of logic.” Whereas ACT (acceptance and commitment therapy) is not changing anything. It is “value-driven.” And is all about “defusing” from thoughts, practicing emotional distance.
The next assignment was to choose a metaphor to try to let go of thoughts. Watching leaves and debris float down the river. Seeing train cars go by. Or watching scenery go by when inside the train. Driving a bus while ignoring the passengers on the bus.
Then Lisa started the new section on communication, describing passive, aggressive, and assertive. And that’s where we ended for this session.
Lisa did take time to go around the room and get everyone’s commitments. I said that I needed to be realistic and add just ONE more walk during the week. For a total of two. Minimum.
