It's like my emotional processing is hijacked.
Posted: September 20th, 2013, 7:52 pm
I'm not sure how to put this. I've run into a problem where negative emotions lead to a cycle of negative thinking about myself. If I think about the death of a loved one it becomes my fault and I'm going to die all alone, etc. If I get cut off in traffic I'll think about how I've driven a lot worse and I'm a horrible person, etc. The self-denunciations could last for several minutes if I let them. It regularly reaches the point where I start yelling and hitting myself out of intense anger and hatred.
The pattern is so consistent and so automatic that my therapist thinks there's a biological component. He doesn't know what it is exactly though, and honestly doesn't know anyone he could refer me to.
Is there a term for this particular problem or behavior? Are there any viable treatments?
The pattern is so consistent and so automatic that my therapist thinks there's a biological component. He doesn't know what it is exactly though, and honestly doesn't know anyone he could refer me to.
Is there a term for this particular problem or behavior? Are there any viable treatments?