I’m going to write a prompting event sheet. I am contemplating whether I want to continue blogging them. Perhaps it’s helpful to other folks who have done or are doing DBT, or who could use a little help with dealing with emotions. And it’s another little way to round out the blog a bit, to do more than just post cute Amy photos and bits of news.
Prompting event for my emotion:
Amy wouldn’t let me feed her pieces of green beans but wouldn’t feed herself either. She just played with them.
Emotion names:
Annoyance.
Frustration.
Anger.
Hurt.
Interpretations (beliefs, assumptions):
I’m not as patient, understanding, respectful, and compassionate as I would like to be and as I would like others to be.
Physical sensations:
A little warm.
Body language:
Frowning.
Abrupt movement.
Urges:
To punish and reject Amy somehow.
Actions:
I ended lunchtime. I took Amy out of the high chair and set her down among her toys. I put myself in the kitchen where I washed dishes, waiting to cool off. I worked through this prompting event sheet in my head.
After effect:
It took a while for the emotion to wear off, but I felt pretty good about how I handled things.
Challenge to the interpretations:
No, I’m not as respectful, patient, etc as I’d like, but it’s okay to practice, and I did practice.
I knew and reminded myself that Amy was not deliberately rejecting me or scorning my efforts to make her a tasty and healthy lunch, even though her behavior felt like rejection.
I also knew and reminded myself that at this age she is still getting her main nutrition from formula, and solids are about tastes and textures and learning the skills of eating. I knew making this into a battle would be unproductive.
My husband is much the same, oddly.
It might also help to tell yourself “Pick my battles” I’ve had to train my brain to ignore the things I cannot effect.
Comment by thordora — July 31, 2007 @ 10:01 am