I have discovered ACT therapy. Oh my Goddess. I am over here taking notes, watching videos, adding meditation courses... This is what I've been needing, better methods of observing the thoughts that I allow to devastate me sometimes. Techniques that allow for inevitable suffering but help me practice thinking about my thoughts without becoming overwhelmed by them to the point where I identify too much with it or can't focus on other things. This will be very helpful.
Also, I learned that gratitude actually boosts oxytocin, so I'm hopping right back on that gratitude train. And familiar smells boost it too, and this all boosts serotonin, and yes please, I will have all of that. I guess that's why I instinctually sniff my rodent. (She smells good, don't judge me.) I do always feel a little better when I burn a little palo santo or light a candle or incense or use wax melts or oil diffuser or ... (This makes it sound like I do all these at once.)
Kind of actually excited to implement some new habits to see how it goes. I made a tentative list on my fridge with a dry erase marker of proven seratonin-boosting habits to try throughout the day. I had already been doing some of these early on in pandemic and I think they helped very much. Anyway, I'm ready to begin again. Here's to fresh starts!
10:30 p.m. - 2022-01-20