So I was recently told to try a loving-kindness exercise, and found it very difficult to follow the instructions.

So basically they have you first sit comfortably, Then you try to remember a person or situation you felt warm being loved (or loving) And then you want to focus on the feeling that this gives you. And finally think of a person you want to share this feeling with.

But I’m already stuck in the second part. I can’t really remember something good that happened to me that would actually cause a feeling.

I just don’t really notice any change.

Did anybody find a way to actually feel anything by thinking back on something? Or in any other way?

  • Madzielle@lemmy.dbzer0.comEnglish
    2·
    2 months ago

    Quite the contrary, it’s not thinking back but thinking of the present The love I’ve been lucky enough to experience today is the only thing thats healed me.

    I can’t give my familial medical history without crying, but thinking about how I’m loved and safe today, keeps the panic attacks away

    Maybe for this exercise, I would write about my music teacher, she saw my talent and was the only person encouraging me at that time. That’s a kind of warmness I guess. And I could say I share that feeling by giving out compliments or encouragement to others I see in my daily life.

    • SolarBoy@slrpnk.netOPEnglish
      1·
      2 months ago

      It’s great that you have such a person in your life. I also have my partner and she has been so good to me. But when I think about her, I can’t feel anything.

      It’s also very strange I can visualise the faces of people I know quite easily. Even if I have not seen them for many years.

      But I can’t visualise the face of my partner, at all. It almost seems like anything that has emotion attached to it is not accessible in my memory

      • FlagstaffEnglish
        2·
        2 months ago

        Is your counselor aware of this? That sounds pretty major…

        • SolarBoy@slrpnk.netOPEnglish
          1·
          2 months ago

          I don’t really see a counselor or therapist at the moment. Not easy to find somebody

          • FlagstaffEnglish
            2·
            2 months ago

            Understandable. I could be wrong, but all I mean is that something this severe sounds like it’s beyond Lemmy’s pay grade…