Transcript Document 7350672

Giving in to, or
appeasing, the
voices:
Submitting to
voice
commands,
passively
believing
statements by
voices, etc.
Mindfulness:
being aware of
the voices but not
feeling compelled
to believe or act
any particular
way because of
them.
Fight or flight:
arguing with
voices or
running from
them, such as
through
distraction
Picture world
as good and
positive,
to comfort self
and feel
relaxed.
Notice dangers
that are
prominent but
also possible
areas of safety.
Try to picture
world accurately
in regards to
safety versus
danger.
Picture world
as dangerous,
so that one
won’t be
overwhelmed
by any risks
that weren’t
anticipated
Block out the
trauma or
distress…
it just doesn’t
exist…numb.
The trauma or
stress is
accepted as part
of the story:
but the story is
still ongoing and
is free to move in
positive
directions
The trauma or
stress
intrudes into
everything:
it seems to be
happening
right now and
is
overwhelming
I think or feel
it:
– therefore it is
true, even if
everyone else
says it isn’t.
I can check in
with myself and
with others, and
make a
conclusion
based on what I
notice:
If I find later there
is a problem with
my decision, I will
change my mind.
My thoughts
and feelings
are unreliable:
and others
offer so many
different
opinions –
there is no way
to decide what
is true.
Try Too Hard:
If something is
worthwhile, I
must keep
working
towards it no
matter how
much I suffer.
I can work
toward things
and see what
happens;
If the stress is too
much, I can let
go, at least for
awhile, then I can
resume where I
left off.
Not Try:
Working
towards things
leads to
disaster and
impossible
stress, so it’s
better to give
up before I
start.
I define myself
completely
independently
of others. If I
say I am
captain of a
spaceship,
then I am.
I negotiate my
identity with
others. My
identity
emerges out of
the mix of what I
propose and
what I do, and
how others see
what I propose
and what I do.
I am mentally
ill or
incompetent, I
cannot define
myself.
Others tell me
who and how I
am.
I define myself
completely
independently
of others:
I am
invulnerable.
I negotiate my
identity with
others:
In general I care
how others see
me but I am not a
captive of the
perspective of
others. I decide
what to make of
how they see me.
I am
completely
vulnerable to
how others
see and
define me:
Often I can’t
stand to be
looked at
because of
what might
happen to me.
Consumer: I
think or feel it,
therefore it is
correct.
Cognitive
approach: let’s
share some
perspectives on
where the
distress here
may be coming
from & how to
resolve it. Each
of us may be
making some
mistakes ……
Mental Health
system: This
person is
wrong and
mentally ill,
therefore we
must take
control away
from her and
decide for her.
Totally
focused on
autonomy:
self defining,
others have no
input or
connection.
I am what I say
I am.
Some mix of
autonomy and a
sense of
belonging:
sometimes self
asserting, other
times relaxes and
lets others define
self. Comfortable
intimacy with
coexisting sense
of independence.
Totally
focused on
belonging:
has no self
definition,
completely
defined by
others.
I don’t need
any
medication: I
dumped it all
out this
morning.
Medication
decisions
should be
thoughtful, &
should consider
possible
benefits, risks,
& the possibility
for reducing
need for
medication over
time by learning
new beliefs &
behaviors.
Based on
your
diagnosis,
you need to
stay on
medication
the rest of
your life,
despite the
side effects &
risk of early
death.
My beliefs are
100% true and
I refuse to
question them
at all.
I always “know”
what is true.
I hold beliefs
tentatively.
I’m open to
questioning my
beliefs, but I do
so gently to avoid
overwhelming my
ability to stay
organized.
I question all
beliefs, even
what most
people take
for granted.
It’s hard for me
to “know” or
focus on
anything,
because I am
so uncertain.
Dysfunctional
Thought
Control
Strategies:
I must control
everything that
happens in my
mind.
I am vast, I
contain
contradictions
(as Walt Whitman
said). I don’t
need to control
everything in my
mind, it’s only my
actions that I
need to focus on.
Of course I
can’t control
this, it’s not
me doing it:
these thoughts,
images, &
impulses are
coming from
the CIA or…..
Overly valuing
spontaneity:
Whatever
thoughts or
impulses come
into me are true
and correct
Valuing
spontaneity but
also sifting
through it: my
spontaneous
thoughts and
impulses are part
of me, but only
some of them fit
each situation
Fearing and
resisting
spontaneity:
My thoughts
and impulses
get me into
trouble, I am
“ill” and must
strive to be
normal at all
costs
Too much
creativity: I
can see
innumerable
ways of
interpreting the
simplest
statement…..
I can walk the
edge between
order and
chaos, I can
consider a few
possible
meanings and
see how they fit
the context, and if
necessary
explore even
further…..
Too little
creativity: To
avoid getting
caught up in
chaos, I must
choose one
fixed
interpretation
and stick with it
no matter what.
Too much
creativity: I try
to win my way
back to social
acceptability by
convincing
others of the
value of my
bizarre
experiences
and
interpretations
I can hold on to,
or let go of, my
creativity as
appropriate, I
can find
something of
value in my
uniqueness to
share with others,
while also letting
go of it when it
doesn’t work.
Too little
creativity: In
attempting to
avoid being
judged for
being bizarre, I
end up being
too flat,
“negative
symptoms.”
I believe
something is
fundamentally
wrong with
me: this leads
to negative
emotions and
over-reactions
in an attempt to
correct things,
which often
compounds
problems.
I see myself as
fundamentally
OK, but am
open to learning
about where I
might be wrong:
I usually catch
mistakes before
they get huge.
I don’t see
any problems
with myself or
my views:
This means my
mistakes don’t
get corrected,
instead they
get
compounded &
escalate till I’m
in serious
trouble.
Comfort self
by assuming a
very narrow
identity: I am
only what is
good and under
control, that
other nasty stuff
is not me.
Accept things
as belonging
somewhere, but
wrestle to put
them into
perspective;
everything I
experience is
part of me, but I
continually sort
out what is most
helpful in a given
moment
Seek peace by
allowing
everything in:
I won’t
perpetuate
internal conflict
by trying to
reject any
thoughts,
feelings or
impulses as
inappropriate
No rationality
or
comparisons:
A thought,
perception, or
experience is
just taken as
perfect in itself,
without
comparisons or
rational
criticism.
Coexistence of
some rational
thinking with
irrational
spontaneity:
Can compare
things rationally
but also has
enough of the
spark of
imbalance to cut
off comparison &
move forward.
Too many
comparisons or
too much
rationality:
No ability to
decide, relax, or
enjoy, because
endless
comparisons,
endless second
guessing, etc.
Experiential
Avoidance:
Attempts are
made to not
have thoughts,
emotions,
impulses,
perceptions etc.
which are
evaluated as
“bad.”
Some ability to
practice
mindfulness;
Willingness to
experience
whatever is in
one’s mind, but
also able to
disengage from it
and see other
perspectives.
Emotional
reasoning or
fusion:
Emotions and
other mental
content is just
taken as true in
itself, and
allowed to
determine the
person’s
direction, without
rational criticism.
I must go to an
extreme to be
safe and/or
correct: Life is
extreme and
demanding,
and I must be
extreme in
response.
All things in
moderation,
including
moderation: It is
normal to be
extreme at times,
though I can also
be comfortable in
the middle; I have
options.
I must always
be moderate:
Being extreme in
any way is a sign
of sickness, I
must always be
in the middle,
always be
normal.
Totally
Spontaneous:
I think or do
whatever
occurs to me,
with no pause
for selfcriticism. I
jump to
conclusions.
Spontaneity
mixed with
modest editing
or self-criticism:
I value my
spontaneity but I
can also step
back from it and
can often sort out
the useful from
the not.
Overwhelmed
by selfcriticism:
I see flaws in
everything I
come up with,
nothing is good
enough. I stuff
any feeling that
might lead
toward a
conclusion.
Inability to
calm self, to
stop worrying
or decide on a
path:
Nothing is good
enough, I must
continue to fret
endlessly.
Willing to
question myself
but also able to
decide when I
have questioned
or fretted
enough:
After what seems
like enough
worrying or
fretting, I decide
what to do and
just do my best.
Complete
certainty and
being
unperturbed no
matter what:
I am completely
happy with my
thoughts and
interpretations
even when they
are out of touch.
Very attached
to outcome,
attempting to
control, caring
to the point of
being
overwhelmed:
I can’t let go
even if it’s
unnecessary
and/or it’s killing
me.
Detached from
the irrelevant,
Attached to
living out core
values:
I do my best to
act on my values
and once I’ve
done my best, I
let go of the rest.
Very detached,
not attempting
to control, not
caring to the
point of self
neglect:
I deal with
potential
frustration by not
trying.
Too many
associations:
I see so many
possible
associations, so
many
meanings, that
nothing makes
any particular
kind of sense.
A balance
between focus
and ability to
make novel
associations:
I can focus in
conventional
ways, but also
break free at
times to see new
forms of
meaning.
Too few
associations:
I see only one or
two fairly dull
ways of looking
at things.
Excessive focus,
things have
meaning but it is
narrow and
sterile.
Depersonalized
- experience
oneself as
totally separate
from body and
feelings:
I have my
feelings and
body reactions,
but I am also
more than that:
Fused with
body reactions
and feelings:
I can’t do or think
anything
independently or
in opposition to
them.
Overprotection
from criticism:
No criticism is
accepted, even
that which
could be very
useful. Overly
defensive.
Open to hearing
criticism but
makes own
decisions about
what to make of
it:
Can often see
criticism as partly
true, partly not,
and use it
constructively.
Collapse under
criticism:
Cannot sustain
own point of
view, gives too
much weight to
critical views.
Low arousal:
Not thinking
about it,
dull,
passive,
not making
distinctions or
seeing
differences.
Medium
arousal:
Making
distinctions and
applying values,
but also seeing
commonalities
and shades of
grey. Can make
an effort and then
let go.
High arousal:
Black and white
thinking,
extreme
reactions,
highly polarized
Thinking that
perpetuates
stress:
Person is
unwilling to see
any problem as
too difficult to
solve, no letting
go of problems
even as person
becomes
overwhelmed.
“…accept the
things I cannot
change...courage
to change the
things I can…”
Person can do
rational problem
solving but also
“let go” of
problems when
they are
hopeless or
overwhelming
Letting go of
too much:
Person does not
face or address
problems or
even bother to
think logically
about them.
Fixed
associations
based on
trauma:
For example,
my abuser wore
a green coat,
now all green
coats mean
severe threat
I can think
through whether
associations
with the trauma
are relevant or
irrelevant in a
given situation.
Balance between
associate and
dissociate.
Dissociation to
protect from
trauma
associations:
I avoid traumatic
over-reactions
by underreacting, but
then I fail to
protect myself
from future
threats….
Conscious
mind seen as
one’s complete
identity and all
powerful even
though it is just
a fragment of
the whole.
Conscious mind
comfortably
shares power
with that which
is less
conscious at any
given time.
Conscious
mind feels
demoralized
and powerless.
Acts only on
consciously
approved
feelings and
avoids, blocks
out, or
dissociates
others:
Unstable or
excessively
narrow identity.
Open to input
from all feelings
but integrates
the feelings into
an overall sense
of values before
acting:
Influenced by
feelings but not
overwhelmed by
them.
Acts on
whatever
feelings emerge
in the moment:
Fuses with and
acts on feelings
that are not
subject to
conscious
evaluation.
There is no
problem:
If anyone thinks
I have a
problem, that is
a problem with
them.
There is a
problem, but it
doesn’t define
me, and it’s
potentially
temporary:
I will pay attention,
learn about it, get
help, and try
different things,
and the problem
can likely be
resolved.
I am and will
continue to be
the problem,
I’m mentally ill:
I hope someone
gives me a pill to
change me into
something not
quite so bad.
Numbing:
None of this
matters to me,
I’m indifferent.
Relaxed
awareness:
There are real
issues here for
me, but I can deal
with them in a
relaxed and
coherent way.
Hyperarousal:
Every detail is
critically
important, I must
be totally on
guard.
I am weak,
others are bad
and
dangerous:
I need to watch
out for them,
but there isn’t
much I can do.
I have some
power and stick
up for myself
successfully:
Because I assert
myself, others
aren’t so bad to
me and they don’t
see me as bad
either.
I fight others,
they see me as
dangerous and
bad:
I’m defending
myself in the
only way I know
how.
Excessive
aggression
toward self:
I see myself as
deeply flawed,
worthless,
unsafe, guilty,
shameful, etc.
All my negative
emotions and
voices are
correct.
Self affirmation
combined with
reasonable
openness to self
criticism:
Critical emotions
or voices or
thoughts are often
partly wrong yet
partly right: after
all I am simply
human.
Excessive
defending of
oneself:
I see all critiques
of myself as
invalid, and so I
block the
emotion or voice,
or see it as
totally external
and evil.
I surrender to a
higher power,
or voice, even
when it
appears to be
persecutory or
corrupt:
Since I have no
real power, I
might as well
surrender now
and get it over
with.
I do what I can,
then I make wise
choices about
when and how to
surrender or let
go of the rest:
I turn over power
only to what is
good or once I
have done what I
can to create what
is good.
I never
surrender to a
higher power,
or let go in any
way:
I take
responsibility for
everything, even
the impossible. I
refuse to ever
lower my
expectations.
Fear of going
mad:
Hypervigilant for
signs of
madness,
attempts to
control thoughts
and emotions,
reacts strongly
to minor
anomalies.
It’s normal to be
a little crazy, but
I can catch
things before
they get out of
hand:
Not stressed by
minor anomalies,
but does
effectively
challenge
dysfunctional
reactions.
“Sealing over,”
don’t even
think about
possible
madness:
If I don’t think
about madness
then I won’t be
bothered by it.
Excessively
metaphorical
thinking:
Everything is
connected, and
everything is
everything else;
I’m dreaming
while awake.
“Wave”
Mix of literal and
metaphorical
thinking:
I can both see
distinctions, and
see similarities
that go beyond
the distinctions.
“Particle and Wave”
Excessively
literal thinking:
I fail to see
connections and
similarities, for
me the world is
divided into
categories that
have nothing to
do with each
other.
“Particle”
Remember so
vividly it seems
to be
happening
right now:
The memory is
so vivid I get
retraumatized
just by having it,
and I still don’t
put it in context.
I let the memory
occur, but I have
ways of reducing
its intensity:
I can note that
reduced intensity
and remind myself
it is just a memory
now.
Refuse to let
the memory
intrude:
I stop the
memory from
retraumatizing
me right now, but
I also fail to
integrate it so I
will run into
problems with it
later.
Cutoff:
I’m not
connected at all
to my …..
Family
Feelings
Thoughts or
voices
Etc.
Individuated:
I am connected to,
but I am not
defined
exclusively by,
my ….
Family
Feelings
Thoughts or
voices
Etc.
Enmeshment:
I am totally
defined by, and
I’m drowning in,
my ….
Family
Feelings
Thoughts or
voices
Etc
Too intentional,
too focused on
control:
I try to control
my thoughts and
everything that
goes on inside
me, I can’t even
let go in order to
sleep.
Good mix of
spontaneity with
self control:
Too
spontaneous:
I can focus on
important
intentions and self
control, but I can
also let go in
various ways, to
laugh, sleep, etc.
My conscious
mind is too
passive,
associations are
made in a
dreamlike way,
there is no order.
Over-valued
experience:
I see my
experience as
completely true
and significant.
Willing to have
the experience
but put it in
perspective:
I don’t need to
stop myself from
having the
experience, but I
can put it into
perspective & not
make too much of
it.
Overly
concerned with
controlling the
experience:
I believe having
the experience
can destroy me
so I focus on
trying to get rid
of it.
I am my
thoughts or
experiences:
I must control
my thoughts and
experiences so
that none of
them are evil or
crazy.
I own my
thoughts and
experiences,
though they
don’t define me:
It’s what I choose
to do with my
thoughts and
experiences that
makes me who I
am.
These thoughts
or experiences
are coming
from
somewhere
outside of me:
I’m not
responsible, I’m
the victim of
others.
I am
completely
selfdetermining:
I withdraw from
anything that I
cannot control.
Only that which I
decide is part of
me.
I am both selfdetermining and
vulnerable:
I choose my
initiatives and
responses, but I
am also
vulnerable to
others and to how
what I initiate is
received, both
internally and
externally.
I am completely
vulnerable:
I can’t change
anything, I have
no responsibility.
I’m a victim.
Distrust any
feeling of
safety:
Remember
times in the past
when safety
proved to be an
illusion. Be on
guard!
Be open minded
about safety and
danger:
I accept the reality
of uncertainty, I
question both
fears and feelings
of safety, I make
as wise decisions
as I can and then
correct course
when I detect a
mistake.
Distrust any
fear or feeling
of threat:
Remember how I
gave in to false
alarms in the
past. Suppress
the fear, full
speed ahead!
I desperately
need you:
Without you I
am nothing.
I prefer to
connect with
you, but I make
do, or find
others, if you
aren’t there:
You mean
something to me
but I am
something without
you as well.
I don’t need
you at all:
Nothing you say,
think, or feel
means anything
to me. I am just
so independent!
I put everything
into airtight
categories or
compartments:
I see everything
as different in
some sense yet
also the same in
some sense:
Everything is
completely
separate and
has nothing to
do with anything
else. It’s very
orderly.
I’m willing to
explore different
senses, different
ways of
organizing
information or not.
I see the world
without any
categories at
all:
I have no way to
organize my
perceptions or
make any sense
out of them.
Positive
Symptoms:
Mind is overreactive in
response to
stress and lack
of control, jumps
to conclusions,
etc.
Balance between
under and overreacting:
Negative
Symptoms:
If I’m off balance
one way or the
other, I quickly self
correct. I try but
not too hard.
Mind protects
itself by underreacting to stress
or lack of control,
by not trying etc.
I am dominant:
I don’t trust
others or what
they have to
say. I decide
what will
happen, when,
and how, without
input from
others.
I have something
to say, but I also
accept input
from others:
I listen to different
viewpoints, then I
do some mix of
going along with
others and
deciding my own
path, depending
on the situation.
I am
submissive:
I can’t trust
myself, and
others have all
the power; I will
only get hurt if I
oppose them.
I am always
focused on
being adjusted
to things as
they are.
I can’t change
things so I just
accept them as
they are, even
when they are
rotten.
I am creatively
maladjusted:
I can roll with
things as they are
when that makes
sense, but I can
also pick a good
time to make a
stand and work for
meaningful
change.
I am always
maladjusted:
I totally resist
things as they
are, even when
fighting against
them leads to my
self destruction
and no real
change in what I
don’t like.
Creativity
without
Spirituality:
Metaphor is
taken as real,
rather than as
pointing at
something else
beyond it.
Healthy dialogue
between
spirituality and
creativity:
Spirituality
without
Creativity:
I can come up
with metaphors,
images and words
for things, but also
recognize that
reality goes
beyond those
containers.
Seeing no
metaphor for
experience, no
way to express it
or put it into
words or images,
it is
overwhelming.
What is going
on in my mind
is what is real.
I don’t need to
look outside of
my mind or
question it in
any way, if my
mind says it’s
real, it’s the
literal truth.
What’s going on
in my mind
partly represents
reality and partly
doesn’t:
What’s going
on in my mind
has nothing to
do with reality:
I engage in an
ongoing
meaningful
interaction where I
test out ideas and
clarify what’s in
my mind.
The contents of
my mind are all
crazy, and I am
helpless to
engage with the
world in any
meaningful way.
Excess focus
on conflict:
I am always
ready to do
battle with the
voices, my goal
is to drive them
out of existence.
Focus on living a
good life:
I don’t waste
energy opposing
the voices just for
the sake of
conflict, but if they
push for
something that will
harm my life, I will
stand firm against
it.
Excess focus
on
appeasement:
It’s better to give
in to the voices,
even when they
are
unreasonable,
rather than risk
upsetting them.
Fight or flight:
I take extreme
action to avoid
or defend
against what
threatens me.
I see a spectrum
of choices:
I can pick
whatever seems
like the most
appropriate
behavior,
including options
in the middle
ground between
fight/submit and
flight/freeze.
Freeze or
submit:
I take no action to
avoid, or
completely give in
to, that which
threatens me.
This protects me
from damage that
could be caused
by attempts to
fight or flee.
Overly risky
behavior:
I avoid noticing
risks that are
present, so I can
feel free to move
ahead in my life
no matter what.
Wise choices
about what kinds
of risks to take:
I am thoughtful
regarding which
risks are best
avoided and
which risks it
makes sense to
take so I can
move forward.
Excess risk
avoidance, or
too many
“safety
behaviors”:
I avoid danger
even when risks
are low compared
to potential
benefits, and this
stops me from
moving forward in
my life.
Avoid worry
and see it as a
threat:
Worry is
dangerous to
me. I need to
distract myself
so I don’t worry,
I can’t control
my worry if it
starts.
Can worry to a
realistic degree,
then drop it:
I need to worry
enough to come
up with a
reasonable plan,
then I can just
proceed with the
plan and see how
things work out.
Overly values
worry:
Worry is
necessary to
protect me from
having bad things
happen to me.
Hate abuser
and reminders
of abuser:
I want to
eliminate even a
trace of the
memory of the
abuser from my
life, so I don’t
have to feel
victimized
anymore.
I can put the
abuser into
perspective
rather than see
myself through
his/her
perspective:
I’m not scared of
reminders of the
abuser because
they are no longer
a big deal to me.
Felt need to
remember the
abuser & the
abuser’s
perspective in
order to defend
against it:
In order to be
safe, I must
remember the
abuser & his
perspective.
I need to calm
and soothe
myself no
matter what:
If I fall apart
inside, I will be
completely
useless, so I
need to lie to
myself about
external threats
if necessary to
calm myself.
I can face
external threats
while also
managing to
avoid overstressing myself:
I focus on doing
what I can & then
avoid overstressing by
letting the rest go.
I need to face
the demands of
the external
threat no matter
what effect that
has on my
internal world:
I can’t take time
to attempt any
self soothing.
I don’t want to
understand
myself or my
past
experience:
Please distract
me from myself,
or numb me out,
no matter what
the cost!
I get to know
myself gradually:
I make sure I have
resources to fall
back on so that I
can handle
difficult
experiences as it
comes time to
face them.
I am willing to
face anything
about myself,
even that which
I’m not ready to
handle:
I don’t have any
sense of
preparedness or
pacing, so I
overwhelm
myself.
Reacting to my
unique self,
and my unique
traumas and
unusual
experiences, I
seem weird to
others:
But I just act on
what I feel, even
if the social
consequences
are not good.
I honor my
uniqueness but
also explore
what I have in
common with
others:
I can follow social
norms when that
makes sense, but
I also get around
to expressing
what is different
about me.
I see a need to
hide my
weirdness from
others:
This means that
instead of trying
to express myself
with others, I am
more focused on
hiding myself,
which makes me
weird.
I’m spiritually
fine, perfect
just as I am:
I have lots of
faults but that’s
understandable:
I don’t need to
do a thing to
make anything
better, I’m
invulnerable,
perfect, beyond
criticism.
I move toward
what I see as
good as best I
can, changing
course as I learn
more, and this
process of doing
what I can is
perfectly
acceptable.
I’m evil and
doomed:
I’m in hell already,
persecuted
endlessly, full of
evil, there is no
way out.
Identify with
the status quo
before the
trauma:
Everything
would be OK if I
could just go
back to that.
Improved
perspective
evolves out of the
tension between
previous
viewpoints and
those resulting
from the trauma:
I value all my
experience though
I need to wrestle to
find the right
perspective on it.
Identify with the
new viewpoint
developed in
response to the
trauma:
Everything will be
better if the new
beliefs and
perspectives just
win completely
and blow the old
patterns away.
Identify with
the status quo
before the
psychosis:
Everything
would be OK if I
could just go
back to that.
Improved
perspective
evolves out of
the tension
between
previous
viewpoints and
the psychosis:
I value all my
experience though
I need to wrestle
to find the right
perspective on it.
Identify with the
psychosis:
Everything will be
better if the new
beliefs and
perspectives just
win completely
and blow the old
patterns away.
I am what I am
identified as:
Whatever I am
currently doing
and however I
am seen, that is
who I am.
My identity is
always
emerging:
I am not just what
I have already
done or how I
have already been
seen, rather, I am
also the process
of recreating
myself to meet
each new
circumstance.
I am not what I
have been
identified as:
Whatever I am
currently doing or
being seen as,
has no
relationship to
who I am.
I need to
escape from or
destroy
whoever hurts
me:
I need to
withdraw from or
destroy those
who hurt me no
matter what.
I can learn to
escape from or
cause change in
the “dark side” of
others, while
maintaining
positive
connections:
I experiment with
trying to change
myself, my
relationships and
others to make this
happen.
I need to attach
even when it
hurts:
I can’t afford to be
alone, so I need
to accept any
pain as being my
own fault and see
the other as
blameless.
I love
everything and
everyone
absolutely:
Everyone and
everything is
perfect just the
way it is, so I
have no right to
alter or hurt
anything, even if
my needs are
unmet.
I balance
respecting and
enjoying things
as they are with
taking action to
meet my needs:
A good balance
can emerge from
the tension
between the
appreciation of
things as they are,
and the need to
move and change.
I want to destroy
all of creation:
I am unhappy, so
everything and
everyone must
go, or be
obliterated.
Overly focused
on control:
I must control
my own
thoughts and
feelings, and
also control
what others
secretly think
and feel about
me.
I make a
reasonable
attempt at
control, then let
the rest go:
I try to create a
good impression,
but I accept that I
am always only
partly in control of
what actually
happens.
Giving up
control:
I can’t control
anything so why
try.
Self esteem no
matter what:
I am determined
to think positive
about myself no
matter what. I
block out
information that
doesn’t fit my
positive
thoughts.
Self esteem that
incorporates
reasonable self
criticism:
I am open to
realistically seeing
both my strengths
and weaknesses,
and my self
esteem is based
on seeing myself
relatively clearly.
Self criticism
without
restraint:
I am determined
to see all my
faults, even those
that are
imaginary.
Ignore context,
I know what
things are:
I will go ahead
based on my
current
perceptions
without paying
any attention to
wider context or
contrary
evidence.
I try to use good
judgment:
I proceed with my
best judgment, but
then if I see
substantial
evidence that I
might have
misjudged, I
reevaluate.
Context
changes
everything,
nothing can be
trusted to be as
it seems:
I must be
hypervigilant for
the subtlest
indicators that
may show that
everything is
different.
I am innocent,
alone, and
helpless:
Others harm me
when they want,
for no good
reason, and
there is nothing I
can do about it.
I am imperfect
and vulnerable,
but I do have
some value and
power:
I experiment in
looking for ways
to escape
mistreatment,
either by changing
myself or
changing
relationships.
I am bad, but
also very
powerful and
allied with
powerful others:
I choose to harm
myself, or I
choose to let
others harm me,
because it is the
punishment I
deserve. It will
make me better.
Overly
vulnerable after
trauma:
I cannot rely on
anything to keep
me safe.
Previous
knowledge has
been shown to
be inadequate.
Uncertain yet
finding spiritual
safety in
uncertainty:
Overly reliant on
denial after
trauma:
I cannot rely on
any “thing” to
keep me safe.
But I can trust the
process of doing
my best, then
letting go in each
moment.
Through my new
spiritual/magical
method, I can
now be
invulnerable to
the kinds of threat
that happened
before.
Let go of
everything
Work, then relax
Stress out
endlessly
Magical
thinking:
I can solve any
problem just by
imagining a
solution, I don’t
need to be
practical.
Balance of
realism and
magic:
I start solving my
problems with
imagination
(which is enough
in itself for the
imaginary
problems!) but
then I follow up
with practical
action.
All my problems
are real:
I am weighed
down by how
overwhelming it
all is.
I’m bad,
important
others are
good:
I can bond with
these others
even though
they hurt me
(I deserve it for
being bad.)
I’m human and
imperfect, and
the others are as
well:
When we have
conflict, I assume
I will be right
some of the time,
and they will be
right some of the
time.
I’m good,
important others
are bad:
I must get away
from them, or
defeat them.
“Bad me”
paranoia:
I anticipate
others will
persecute me
because of my
badness.
I’m a mix of good
and bad, and
others are as
well:
We will probably
hurt each other
sometimes, but
not all the time.
“Good me”
paranoia:
Since others are
not so good, I
expect they will
persecute me.
Flashback
defines
who/where I am
in the present
Flashback
defines a portion
of the past, but
doesn’t
dominate the
present
Flashback is
shut out:
It has no reality at
all
Persist in
behavior with
short term
payoff despite
reasonably
clear evidence
it will lead to a
huge long term
problem:
Good balance of
short and long
term strategies:
Persist in
strategy with a
hoped for long
term payoff,
despite intense
short term costs
and the absence
of clear
evidence that
long term payoff
will come true
Be flexible to fit
immediate
context:
Even when this
means giving up
on longer term
strategies.
Good judgment
about when to be
flexible and
when to be
unbending:
I make good
decisions about
when to hold to
my faith and when
to change my
ideas to fit new
circumstances.
Have faith to
persist despite
what is believed
to be a
temporary lack
of confirmation
from immediate
context:
Even when costs
are great and
current feedback
indicates strategy
won’t work.
Fail to use
“magic” or
imagination
even in areas
where it best
applies:
Because of this,
one is a victim of
what has been
imagined by
others or other
parts of self.
Uses magic or
imagination
when needed to
experiment with
reshaping how
things are seen,
but also takes
practical action
when that is
called for.
Think “magic”
or imagination,
can be applied
as a solution in
an area where
some other kind
of action is
needed:
Believes in
solutions that
don’t work, and
doesn’t do what
would work.
Protect self
from failing to
perceive a
threat by being
biased toward
seeing it:
I’m not afraid to
look on the dark
side, but
sometimes I see
threats that
aren’t real.
Constantly
evolving and
complex
perception of a
mix of threat and
safety:
I can often find
safety in the midst
of danger, and
see the danger in
assuming too
much safety.
Use “magic” or
imagination or
biased
perception to
increase sense
of safety:
I know how to
look on the bright
side! But I fail to
detect many real
threats.
Destroying
people’s
autonomy in
order to “save”
them:
Prior bad
decisions are
seen as proof
that person’s
autonomy must
be restricted in
the future by
medications and
other means.
Opposing bad
decisions but
supporting
autonomy:
Coercion used only
as a last resort to
block really major
bad decisions:
emphasis is on
helping person
regain autonomy
combined with
competent
decisions.
Just letting
people destroy
themselves:
A person’s
autonomy is
respected, even
to the point of
letting them carry
out bad decisions
that destroy
themselves and
hurt others.
Too great of
positive
expectations or
the wrong
expectations:
Unrealistic
expectations lead
to frustration and
suffering.
Expectations fit
the
circumstances:
Person learns to
expect what is
available & adjusts
expectations to
changing
circumstances.
Too few positive
expectations:
Important
opportunities are
missed because
there is no
expectation that
they are
available.
Too much
attachment:
I need things to
be a certain way,
I don’t let go
even when
hanging on leads
to overwhelming
stress.
Balance of
attachment and
detachment:
I can value things
and people and
attach to them, but
I can also let go
when hanging on
leads to too much
stress.
Too little
attachment:
I don’t care if
there are losses
and wounds, in
fact I prove it by
inflicting them on
myself!
Excess thinking
in categories:
I see things just
in terms of prefabricated
categories
(seeing things
excessively in
terms of
categories, and
not specifics, is
associated with
depression.)
Balance of use of
categories and
ability to see how
individual events
or people don’t
totally fit the
category:
Categorical
enough to not be
overwhelmed, but
also able to get
free of categories
when that is
helpful.
Things are
excessively
specific:
I see things only
as individual
events, as I result
my senses are
overloaded by the
“blooming
buzzing
confusion”
Excessively
centered:
Always stays
close to the
center in an
attempt to retain
flexibility, but in
so doing loses
the capacity to
go to extremes,
in other words,
loses flexibility.
Balance of going
out to extremes
and coming back
to center to
regain flexibility:
Looks like healthy
attachment, where
child balances
exploring with
going back to
parent for
comforting &
nurturing.
Goes to
extremes and
gets stuck there:
Expresses
freedom from the
tyranny of the
center by going to
an extreme, but
then loses
flexibility by being
extreme.
Grabbing at
straws to “see”
a way of
controlling an
out of control
situation:
Often sees
illusory patterns
because looking
so hard at faint
associations.
Balances need to
maintain hope by
noticing all
possibilities for
control, with need
to “weed out”
illusory pattern
perception that
could lead to
misguided
efforts.
Giving up
attempts to
control, being
hopeless:
Person may give
up even though
some pattern of
acting would
have worked to
control the
situation.
Too little
toleration of
uncertainty:
This leads to
jumping to
conclusions, to
reduce the
uncertainty.
Dynamic tension
between
acceptance of
uncertainty and
efforts to resolve
it:
This leads to a
nuanced view,
which includes
both ability to
make conclusions
and an ability to
see past
conclusions.
Too much
toleration of
uncertainty:
This leads to
being incurious,
lack of interest, a
negative
symptom.
A need or value
is denied:
This may reduce
conflict with
other needs, but
perhaps out of
awareness,
pressure to
meet the denied
need builds up.
Needs and Values
are integrated:
Each need or
value finds some
kind of place, in a
dynamic, shifting
balance. Nothing
is either totally
denied or totally
dominant.
Denied need or
value suddenly
becomes
dominant:
A long pent-up
demand may be
satisfied, but
perhaps at
enormous cost to
other needs and
values
My experience
is meaningless,
it is just the
result of an
illness:
It is just the
result of a
chemical
imbalance, or
random misfiring
due to a brain
disease
My experiences
have some value
and potential
meaning, but I
may need to sort
out in just what
sense:
I don’t need to
reject any of my
experiences but I
may have to
search to find a
wise interpretation
of them.
My experience
is completely
meaningful and
accurate:
All my
conclusions are
completely true
and I don’t have
to doubt or sort
through any of
them.
Psychotic
experience is
seen as
entirely sick or
bad:
Psychotic
experience is
seen as having a
mix of danger
and possible
value:
To be healthy I
must seek to get
rid of every bit of
this kind of
experience & of
whatever is
causing it.
Health is seen as
coming from
sorting out the
misleading aspects
of the experience
from potentially
helpful aspects.
Psychotic
experience is
seen as very
good:
Efforts are made
to have more of it
& encourage
whatever is
causing it.
Divergent
Thinking:
Also seen as
loose
associations or
even
dissociation,
leads to unusual
perceptions &
experiences,
common in
poets, visual
artists.
Balance of
Divergent and
Convergent
Thinking:
Person can
alternate between
both thinking styles
in a way that
integrates into a
good life.
Convergent
Thinking:
Also seen as a
narrowing of
associations,
fewer unusual
experiences but
also something
like “negative
symptoms,”
common in
mathematicians,
engineers etc.
Live in one’s
own world:
Be so unique in
the way one
sees things and
expresses about
things that
others cannot
connect, there is
no
communication.
Having one’s own
world but also
relating that
world to the
world of others:
One is able to
focus on the points
of contact between
one’s own world
and the world as
seen by others, so
communication
happens.
Fail to even
have one’s own
world:
Be so focused on
being “normal”
that one has
nothing of one’s
own to contribute,
nothing to say.
Being too
closed off from
others and
from the world:
What I hold as
true is not
affected by
exterior
evidence or by
what others
think.
I have a semipermeable
boundary with
others and the
world:
Being too
sensitive to the
world and
others:
I use judgment to
decide when to
hold onto my views
despite
disagreement, and
when to change
them. I am just
somewhat open.
What I hold as
true can be easily
overwhelmed by
the views of
others or by
random bits of
the external
world.
Assume too
much:
I refuse to
question my
assumptions,
my perceptions,
and my
conclusions.
I make
assumptions:
but also can open
them up to
questioning when
they aren’t working
out well.
Assume too
little:
I question too
much, don’t know
what to assume,
can’t organize my
perceptions or
make
conclusions.
Mistrust in the
spontaneous,
or Nature, or
Spirit:
I trust in my own
efforts working
alongside the
spontaneous, or
Nature, or Spirit:
Because I lack
trust, I must rely
exclusively on
my own efforts,
and so I get
overwhelmed.
My own efforts
have a role, but I
don’t get
overwhelmed
because I can also
let go and trust.
Blind trust in the
spontaneous, or
Nature, or Spirit:
Since I am so
trusting, I make
no efforts to sort
things out for
myself, or to
question what
pops into my
head.
Overly focused
on left brain
processing:
only that which
is in words
and/or makes
logical sense is
real…
Both methods of
processing are
used:
The gifts and the
limits of each
method of
processing are
noticed and
respected.
Overly focused
on right brain
processing:
Patterns are seen
in ways not easily
put into words or
communicated,
and no attempts
are made to
logically sort
things out.
Micromanaging
mental events:
I feel the need to
control every
aspect of how I
think, feel, and
process
perceptions: it’s
overwhelming!
Balance of
spontaneity with
management:
I trust my mind but
also I’m aware it
can make
mistakes, and I
have a process of
detecting and
working through
them where
possible.
Lack of
management of
mental events:
I give up trying to
manage how my
mind works, it’s
out of control.
Whatever I think,
feel, perceive just
is what it is. I
don’t notice
mistakes……
Who’s responsible for what hurts? Abused children usually blame
themselves, but as adults, may shift to blaming others excessively….
Excessively
internal locus
of control:
I’m not being
abused or
abandoned, it’s
only that I’ve
been bad, as
soon as I
change that
everything will
be better.
Realistic locus of
control:
Sometimes I run
into trouble
because others
are hostile,
sometimes I
create my own
problems. I can
learn to respond
appropriately to
each situation.
Excessively
external locus of
control:
I’m actually quite
good, but various
external forces
(other people,
voices, or
entities) are evil
and are
persecuting me.
Two Extremes in Seeking Safety, Not Very Compatible……
Focus on
defending
against
external threat,
guard against
feeling too safe
internally:
to maintain
vigilance.
Guard against
either ignoring
threats or seeing
exaggerated
threat:
I seek to be vigilant
but not
hypervigilant, to
maintain a feeling
of safety without
being oblivious.
Focus on
maintaining
internal sense of
safety, guard
against
perceiving too
much external
threat:
to maintain
stability.
CBT for psychosis includes “off the map” exploration:
Therapy by
formula:
I just do what is
in the therapy
manual, whether
it works or
makes sense to
the individual
client or not.
I always know
exactly what I
am doing
though.
Follows charted
routes when that
makes sense,
but also willing
to explore
uncharted
territory:
When I explore
uncharted
territory, I tend to
make charts as I
go as much as I
can.
Columbus
therapy:
I set off not
knowing where I
am going, get
there & don’t
know where I am,
then get back and
don’t know where
I’ve been.