Confessions of a Rageaholic

[Itchybottom]

CBT is pretty retarded, but it's really the only thing in psychiatry with enough non-correlation evidence to be conceived as real science. It doesn't work for everyone but it's a good foot forward. If it fails, at least you tried something. I'm sure there are plenty of low cost clinics in your area. Talk to your general practitioner (or any walk-in clinic) for a list. Just tell them you're bummed and you want to try to sort things out with proven methodology. Life is really all about putting one foot in the other, and moving forward. If you don't like something, keep walking. Life is too short to get anal retentive and upset about others' viewpoints. They can't hear your thoughts, they can't live your life, they can't give you practical advice in a situation because they don't have the skeletons in the closet you do. Go audit some group counseling sessions locally, listen to how they all use each other as a crutch, how admitting to having a problem somehow gives them a false sense of victory. People are kidding themselves if they're always happy and nothing phases them. Just most of us that are successful in life, put on a good show because we're taught that people prey on weakness and compete. Obsessing over positive and negative emotions and comparing yourself to others is self defeating.

I was raised Buddhist and followed the precepts for 17 years of my life, the only thing I kept from that experience is the breathing exercises. Perhaps you should give it a shot: Sit down, however you feel comfortable (Most Buddhists, and Aikido students sit in "seiza" -- no reason to discipline your body if the problem is the mind though), close your eyes. Take a deep breath in through your nose, hold it for as long as it's comfortable, exhale through your mouth. Again, this time, think about the act of breathing. Envision just that, the air going in, and coming out for a while. Ponder the meaning (it's different for everyone), listen to the quiet. If you get an itch, think "Hmm, itch", realize the urge to scratch is just part of being alive. Ignore it if possible and just add it to your meditation, or scratch it, it really doesn't matter. The idea here is to just trigger a mental reset and exist in the present. After a while you're able to just breathe for a check out, that's when it's time to start thinking about other things. The breeze from a fan near by. The chirp of a bird, the honking of a horn. Just try to mentally image it all and find deeper meaning. Find things to appreciate about even the most annoying of noises.

Not all animals in a group are alike, though the human animal is generally considered to be a social one; not all of us are social. The people in this thread giving advice about how they fixed their problems by getting involved in something with others have just found a method to not constantly be lost in thought. It's all escapism, it's just been labelled as acceptable escapism in society. The key to life, though often stated moderation, is really just staying occupied and learning to have respect for individual thought. You don't have to agree with someone, or rage about some stupid fuck that has a retarded opinion on the matter (no matter how wrong it is), you just have to accept that it is their reality and not your own. Don't get caught up on making them see the truth, or how you're superior because you understand the truth, just co-exist and try to find common ground. Not all men are equal, but don't let that get in your way. Everyone has something in common, everyone has something to share to contribute to your experiences in life.

[PhelanKA]

Originally Posted by Itchybottom [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

CBT is pretty retarded, but it's really the only thing in psychiatry with enough non-correlation evidence to be conceived as real science. It doesn't work for everyone but it's a good foot forward. If it fails, at least you tried something. I'm sure there are plenty of low cost clinics in your area. Talk to your general practitioner (or any walk-in clinic) for a list. Just tell them you're bummed and you want to try to sort things out with proven methodology. Life is really all about putting one foot in the other, and moving forward. If you don't like something, keep walking. Life is too short to get anal retentive and upset about others' viewpoints. They can't hear your thoughts, they can't live your life, they can't give you practical advice in a situation because they don't have the skeletons in the closet you do. Go audit some group counseling sessions locally, listen to how they all use each other as a crutch, how admitting to having a problem somehow gives them a false sense of victory. People are kidding themselves if they're always happy and nothing phases them. Just most of us that are successful in life, put on a good show because we're taught that people prey on weakness and compete. Obsessing over positive and negative emotions and comparing yourself to others is self defeating.

I was raised Buddhist and followed the precepts for 17 years of my life, the only thing I kept from that experience is the breathing exercises. Perhaps you should give it a shot: Sit down, however you feel comfortable (Most Buddhists, and Aikido students sit in "seiza" -- no reason to discipline your body if the problem is the mind though), close your eyes. Take a deep breath in through your nose, hold it for as long as it's comfortable, exhale through your mouth. Again, this time, think about the act of breathing. Envision just that, the air going in, and coming out for a while. Ponder the meaning (it's different for everyone), listen to the quiet. If you get an itch, think "Hmm, itch", realize the urge to scratch is just part of being alive. Ignore it if possible and just add it to your meditation, or scratch it, it really doesn't matter. The idea here is to just trigger a mental reset and exist in the present. After a while you're able to just breathe for a check out, that's when it's time to start thinking about other things. The breeze from a fan near by. The chirp of a bird, the honking of a horn. Just try to mentally image it all and find deeper meaning. Find things to appreciate about even the most annoying of noises.

Not all animals in a group are alike, though the human animal is generally considered to be a social one; not all of us are social. The people in this thread giving advice about how they fixed their problems by getting involved in something with others have just found a method to not constantly be lost in thought. It's all escapism, it's just been labelled as acceptable escapism in society. The key to life, though often stated moderation, is really just staying occupied and learning to have respect for individual thought. You don't have to agree with someone, or rage about some stupid fuck that has a retarded opinion on the matter (no matter how wrong it is), you just have to accept that it is their reality and not your own. Don't get caught up on making them see the truth, or how you're superior because you understand the truth, just co-exist and try to find common ground. Not all men are equal, but don't let that get in your way. Everyone has something in common, everyone has something to share to contribute to your experiences in life.

That's pretty good advice and I think there's probably a lot of truth in your words but as you said you were raised this way. As they say "It's easier said than done." If you're already an angry person meditation in the traditional sense I've found is very difficult.

[Spicy]

Originally Posted by Itchybottom [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

The key to life, though often stated moderation, is really just staying occupied and learning to have respect for individual thought. You don't have to agree with someone, or rage about some stupid fuck that has a retarded opinion on the matter (no matter how wrong it is), you just have to accept that it is their reality and not your own. Don't get caught up on making them see the truth, or how you're superior because you understand the truth, just co-exist and try to find common ground.

Well said. I really wish more people would grasp this frame of mind.

[PhelanKA]

Originally Posted by Spicy [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

Well said. I really wish more people would grasp this frame of mind.

Letting go of this expectation is what I believe Itchy is trying tell us is the first step on the road to happiness.

Ommmmmmm....

Ommmmmmm....

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[Hasbinbad]

Originally Posted by Straif [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

To be honest with you the "fuck people" mentally is what drove me.. ..blah blah blah.

Hmm, when I think of "fuck people," I think less of a jaw-clenched, scowling sort of "fuck people," and more of a universal disdain for other people's likes, dislikes, and social norms. Kinda like.. Get in on the universal joke man. None of this external bullshit matters. Go read some Kierkegaard, and learn how to laugh at absurdity rather than getting hung up by it.

Some really smart guy probably once said "Don't sweat the small shit bro, and it's really all small shit."

Meditation is cool, education is cool, getting laid helps. Take a class in astronomy some time, and whenever you feel shitty, try thinking of what a billion years actually means..

Also, a blue-collar type anger-management class will help you develop tools (coping mechanisms, for those of you reading this who think you're amateur psychologists) to stop yourself from dwelling or acting on negative impulses (defense mechanisms, ya lil' Freuds).

Besides deep or focused breathing exercises (mentioned before - for good reason), one of mankind's best coping strategies, look up thought-stopping and distraction to start with IMO. They are fairly easy to implement, and from what I have seen in the clinical environment, fairly effective.

[PhelanKA]

Originally Posted by Hasbinbad [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

Hmm, when I think of "fuck people," I think less of a jaw-clenched, scowling sort of "fuck people," and more of a universal disdain for other people's likes, dislikes, and social norms.

Hmm, and I think of trust fund babies livin it up in Ibiza

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[Spicy]

jungle fever grosses me out

[PhelanKA]

Originally Posted by Spicy [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

jungle fever grosses me out

The salt from your jealous tears gives me life.

[Hasbinbad]

Originally Posted by Spicy [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

jungle fever grosses me out

Inbred rednecks fucking their sisters creating more inbred rednecks grosses the rest of us out, but you still do it..

[Spicy]

you mad brew?