It may be that I’m getting to an age where I don’t relate well to the norms of younger culture (I’m 57 now). Or, it’s possible that age has imparted wisdom on me. I’m not sure which one (or both) is true in this post.
I was in a local mall this weekend and walked by a trio of 20-somethings, and overheard one mention “Oh, that’s just my intrusive thoughts talking” and the other two chuckled knowingly.
At first, I was pretty amazed at how therapy ideas (and intrusive thoughts are absolutely real – I’ve certainly had them) have now become part of everyday life and conversation. But then I pondered my own worst times – two middle school years filled with anxiety, panic attacks, and agoraphobia.
I found, for me, that recovery started gaining momentum when I thought less about the anxiety. When I forgot to worry about panic attacks. When I let go of hypervigilance about my thoughts and feelings of anxiety. When I was more in the moment, and less conscious of all my mental, physical and emotional processes regarding the moment.
I guess there is a middle ground (there always is, right?) – where we teach about these things, but point out how normal they are as part of most human lives (depression, anxiety, strange thoughts, emotions) – and not something we need to keep focusing on, or identifying with.
