My Bad Box

flyingwithstars · Post by **flyingwithstars** » Thu Apr 13, 2006 1:42 am

My therapist tells me that when I can't deal with certain thoughts/emotions, I can visually or physically put them into a box, any kind of box. I sometimes do this visually, picturing a small jewlery box with a lock and a key and whenever I have a thought or feeling I can't handle, I just open the lid and throw it in, closing the lid and locking the latch...so I won't have to deal with it until I'm ready to, and I always have the key for the box...

This really works, especially if you have a real box you can pretend to put emotions in, act it out and everything. Act as if you're holding your emotion or thought and physically throw it in.

plantt · Post by **plantt** » Thu Apr 13, 2006 5:39 am

can definitely help to set things aside for awhile... & visualizing it can be a good aid to changing thoughts.

glad you're finding it useful =)

Eccie · Post by **Eccie** » Thu Apr 13, 2006 1:19 pm

I was just wondering if your therapist ever tells you that you should go back to the box and try to deal with some of the things you locked up or not. (If you can remember). I've never tried this, but I was curious if it was a way to rid you of your emotions or save them until you can deal with them calmly one at a time. Does your T ever ask what emotions you put in the box?
S'ok if you would rather not talk about it, just curious, also if anyone else has had experience with this.
Thanks a lot,
Ec

Post by **Spidey** » Thu Apr 13, 2006 4:15 pm

i find that that only works really well for me with intrusive thoughts. thoughts that need to be processed out because they're linked with severe emotions i can't really bin for a long period of time without them messing up other stuff.

this is a very empowering way to deal with your emotions and stuff that is negative. hopefully soon you can come to a point where you can deal with the stuff that is lingering inside that box that you have a strong emotional reaction to.

to answer ec's question, usually your *heart* will tell you when it is time to process something, not your mind. your t will help you understand the personal cues that come up when your heart tells you that it is time to do something/solve something.

Reisu · Post by **Reisu** » Thu Apr 13, 2006 4:24 pm

thats really weird, in the therapy group thingies i go to they always tell us that we need to not put things in our 'box' and its bad

the people who run it are crazier than us though

your t's advice seems a lot better.

bus

My Bad Box

My Bad Box

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