The Allusionist 14. Behave
Jun 30, 2015
Jane Gregory, a clinical psychologist expert in cognitive behavioural therapy, explains how words can gain power over us. She explores why logic often fails, and introduces cognitive diffusion and visual tricks to strip meaning from intrusive thoughts. Short techniques like repetition, reframing and naming emotions are discussed to weaken distressing language.
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Words Can Gain Emotional Power
- Words can become emotionally fused to experiences and gain power beyond their literal meaning.
- Cognitive diffusion aims to strip such words of meaning so they no longer trigger automatic responses.
Use Cognitive Diffusion Intentionally
- Do practice cognitive diffusion to detach from distressing thoughts by reducing them to letters or meaningless strings.
- Identify whether you hear or see the thought and choose an exercise that matches that experience.
Shrink Or Cartoonify Trigger Words
- Try visual techniques like rhyming words, shrinking text, or inflating trigger words to reduce their emotional impact.
- Use breath imagery to grow yourself while the trigger word shrinks and loses importance.