The material presented
here is not Al-Anon Conference Approved Literature. It is a method
to exchange
information, ideas, feelings, problems and solutions on a personal
level.
The Fortune Teller Error. You think that things are going to turn out badly, and convince yourself that this is already a fact. You have no evidence for the prophecy, but you're convinced anyways.
Jumping to conclusions. You make a negative interpretation even though there are no definite facts that convincingly support your conclusion. You think that preparing for the worst is better than hoping for the best, because you're afraid, not hopeful.
-- Edited by Cathyinaz on Wednesday 20th of November 2013 02:41:48 PM
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Lord, put your arm around my shoulder and your hand over my mouth
Speak only when you feel that your words are better than your silence.
This phrase refers to an alcoholic's reversion to old thought patterns and attitudes. Stinking thinking may include, blaming others, alcoholic grandiosity, fault-finding, self-centeredness, and skipping meetings. Stinking thinking is a warning sign to an alcoholic that he is not working the AA program and he or she is getting precariously close to their next drink.
I think for me I could use the same and say, blaming, judging andcritiquing others, grandiosity, terminal uniqueness ,being always right and most importantly being closed minded .
In other words being in a huge huge alanon slip[
-- Edited by hotrod on Wednesday 20th of November 2013 07:17:14 PM
For me that would be any non-productive thinking...negative, defensive, judging and blaming, unrealistic and insane. When my brain picks it's own topics without any productive goal in mind the thoughts most invariably stink. I learned in Al-Anon a definition of sanity which I still use today to alert me when I am doing stinking thinking..."A continuous and orderly process of thought". That works for me and is something I have to work at also. Good thread Continuing to listen. (((hug)))
The one I related to the most was taking a thought and making it a fact. I can jump to the end of the story and think there is only one outcome. Hugs S :)
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Faith minus vulnerability and mystery equals extremism. If you've got all the answers, then don't call what you do "faith". - Brene Brown
"Whatever truth you own doesn't own you" - Gary John Bishop
I think of them as 'intrusive thoughts' - they come unbidden and get in the way of my recovery. GOD to me can simply mean 'good orderly direction' and that applies to my thinking as well.
For me I'm a adult child and a para alcoholic ;) it's when I step into my old victim role. Thank god it rarely happens anymore, but I have a program if I lose sanity. It's blaming others for something I willingly took a part in, judging others, black and white thinking, perfectionism. Basically for me it's when I shut god out and try to start running the show on my own. When gods present there can be no insanity or stinking thinking;) just like above GOD good orderly direction. I like to say as Eckart Tolle would say, I have lost my consciousness for a spell. I'm like I'm drunk, but I am sober, I have just temp lost my sanity, the ego has taken over. EGO edging god out. Thank god for this program and all the angels in this program, I can honestly say I have experienced weeks and even a month here and there of peace and serenity now. I never had that before I was 40.
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I needed these behaviors in my past they helped me survive I'm finding new and better ways to not just survive but thrive
LOVE itty bitty sh***y committee. Just a bunch of negative jerks around a table talking about the worst about everything. I may have to start using that.
I call mine Crazy-brain: The constant unwanted nattering of my brain that is unerringly focused on 'whatifwhatifwhatifwhatif' and supplements these questions with the absolute worst outcome of a situation. Usually accompanied by a sinking feeling in my stomach and me being angry or upset for no reason whatsoever. I've gotten very good at putting a cork in it - literally visualizing a bottle and jamming a cork into the opening.
I have the same answer as Karma13. If I start spiralling downwards, it usually is rooted in my having fabricated victimhood in my head, in other words, I gave all my power away to someone or something else. For me, blame, shame, anger, depression (the stinky things) all stem from this fake victim belief I have in my head. It's closely related to martyrdom. I don't have a cute phrase or description for it though.
The more I study it, the more I notice when other people's thinking is off, they're usually reacting to the belief that they are a victim somehow.
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