You: Hi
Stranger: Hello
You: We are both interested in Psychology
You: What interests you about it?
Stranger: Yeah, I guess
Stranger: It was actually my college course and I want to learn more about it.
You: Oh thats cool
You: Are you in college?
Stranger: I am
Stranger: how about u?
You: I am out of college… Went to school about 10 years ago
Stranger: Oh god
You: I have figured out some things about psychology and therapy that have helped me a lot and I want to share them with others. Open to giving it a try?
You: It will def make for an interesting convo
Stranger: I would love to.
You: Ok cool. In order to do this, we need a topic. It should be something that is on your mind. Could be something that causes anxiety, sadness, or thoughts you don’t want
You: a problem
Stranger: I found a new one.
Stranger: Why do people choose to end their life instead of surviving and looking for a possible solutionss to them?
You: Hmmm lets see. So is this an idea that is sticking around on your mind? I want to find something that we can work on “releasing”
Stranger: Yes
You: Ok, let’s see what we can do about it.
Stranger: Okay.
You: when does this thought show up? Are there any triggers or circumstances where its more present?
Stranger: I am just curious.
Stranger: and I knew someone who wants to end her life
You: ok but this is a thougth that you wish would go away, right?
You: If the situation of your friend never changed, would you still want your thoughts baout it to go away
You: ?
Stranger: No.
You: Then this wont work 🙂
You: It has to be on something that you want to go away
You: anxiety, frustration, sadness
You: things that cause those things
Stranger: overthink. Is it possible?
You: Yes I have helped someone with that exact same topic
You: So step 1, is getting very clear. When you overthink, what are teh thoughts going on in your head?
Stranger: A lot of what ifs, self-doubt, and questioning
You: Ok, are there any thoughts you can share directly. For example, “Oh I shouldnt have said that” like the exact thoughts are kinda important for this exercise
Stranger: like “what if I am not capable of my chosen career?, what if I failed? What if I won’t find my the one? What if I’ll die tomorrow?”
You: Ok thats helpful
You: So are there any times when those thoughts are more present?
You: like any triggers to the thoughts?
You: times when you overthink more
Stranger: It triggers a lot at night when I can’t sleep or I saw someone who is already happy on his/her success
You: Ok great
You: Last question before step 2
You: “What if I won’t find my the one?”
You: what is that referring to ?
Stranger: I am referring to my future partner
You: ok thank you
Stranger: You’re welcome!
You: Ok step 2 is called turnarounds. As we go through this process we are looking for “clicks” something that clicks In the mind you will know if something clicks. If something clicks, just type “click”
You: cool?
Stranger: cool
You: Alright I am going to write a few turnaround statements. If they dont click that is o
You: k
You: What if I am capable in my chosen careeer
You: What if I succeeded
You: What if I do find the one
Stranger: click
You: What if I live
You: Ok reflect on the click
You: a little
You: Which one clicked the most?
Stranger: The second statement
You: Cool
You: Now sometimes after a click, the thoughts subside. You can usually tell
You: if not we move on to the next step
You: You can sometimes sense the overthinking isn’t going to happen anymore. but its ok if you dont know
Stranger: we can move on.
You: Ok before we go on the next step, you had these thoughts:
You: “what if I am not capable of my chosen career?,
what if I failed?
What if I won’t find the one?
What if I’ll die tomorrow?”
You: do you still feel like these are as “charged” or present in you mind?
Stranger: Yes
You: are there any modifications to them now that youve had a click?
Stranger: charged.
You: more charged?
Stranger: yeah?
You: Ok so the emotional intensity is great now, right?
You: greater*
Stranger: what?
You: Nvm its all good
You: lets try next step
You: ok?
Stranger: Ok
You: Can you think of a time in the past, you or someone else, was not capable in their chosen career, they failed, they didnt find the one and they may have passed away?
You: just see if something comes up. if a memory does come up, its a click
You: maybe you knew they were going to die tomorrow
You: if this worked, a memory will bubble up you shouldnt have to think too hard
Stranger: something comes up
You: ok now that thing, does it contain emotion when you think about it? Like it makes you a little uncomfortable to think about?
Stranger: It is. I’m kinda uncomfortable
You: Ok that is actually good
You: so sometimes the thinking is because something wasn’t fully processed about a past event
You: so when we rethink it the discomfort comes up
You: the good news is when you reflect on the original event, you can process the discomfort
You: and it will go away
You: this could help you stop overthinking if you can fully process it
You: make sense?
Stranger: It really makes sense.
You: Ok take a moment and just reflect on the memory that came up. See if you can really feel the discomfort, allow it to come in and process
You: it doesnt take long usually
You: Let me know when you are ready
Stranger: I’m ready
You: Ok. After each step I check in.
You: “what if I am not capable of my chosen career?,
what if I failed?
What if I won’t find the one?
What if I’ll die tomorrow?”
You: ^ these were your thoughts from the beginning
Stranger: yes
You: Do you feel a difference now when you thinka bout them
Stranger: Yes
You: Less present, less charged?
Stranger: Yes
You: In my experience, you will stop having those thoughts
You: I mean you can think them still but they wont come up without you wanting them to
You: What do you think?
Stranger: I love it.
You: Thanks for giving this a try
Stranger: Thanks for helping me also!