Barrier 3
Difficulty Distinguishing
Thoughts and Feelings from Facts
COMMON
INDICATORS
- Thoughts:
- "I cannot be
worthwhile if I do not feel
worthwhile." "Since do
not feel love for my spouse, I
must not love him." "I
do not believe anybody loves me,
so I guess no one does."
- Feelings:
- Agitated over the
conflict between feelings and
facts.
- Actions:
- Endlessly
debating feelings versus facts.
Arguing with those offering help.
GENERAL
INFORMATION
When
you are feeling depressed, your senses
are dulled, even numb in some cases. The
world is viewed through a dark and dreary
lens, and things seem much, much worse
than they really are. Life seems terribly
cold and awful. At times like this--and
we all have them--thoughts and feelings
can be so strong that they are often
mistakenly considered as facts.
- Example:
Jeff and Becky were having
trouble making ends meet. For
each of the last three months,
their expenses were a
considerable amount greater than
their income. Rather than dealing
with the facts--there were
several ways they could earn more
money as well as reduce
spending--Jeff dwelt on his
feelings of doom and gloom until
he was convinced his feelings
represented reality and,
therefore, they were truly on the
verge of bankruptcy.
Before
feelings of depression will pass, it is
absolutely essential to perceive the
facts accurately, clearly distinguishing
them from associated thoughts and
feelings.
STEPS TO
REMOVING THE BARRIER
Please
see Core
Principle 3: Feelings versus Facts.
GO TO:
Next barrier: Exaggerated
Thinking
Previous barrier:
Depressed About Feeling Depressed
Depression Chapter
Overview
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