Meghan Breen Therapy Services

DIALECTICS! The notion that two contradictory ideas can exist simultaneously. I love this quote - it is so true, life is hard! Figuring out what to do, when to do what, and being the decider of all this is a real doozy. The use of dialectics can really help balance just about any stuck point, if it can be true that I am being both courageous AND risky (stupid is just too judgmental for me guys so I swapped it with risky) at the same time, it takes some of the pressure off ...choosing either/or. Black and white thinking is such a distorted dead end, dialectics allow us to use the interconnected belief that it can all fit. At the same time! One of my favorites in DBT is, I am doing the best I can, AND I have to work harder. I am perfect exactly as I am, and I want to change so I feel more connected to myself and my life. It’s a real game changer, give it a try. When you find yourself stuck, pause for a second and ask, what else is true here? Dialectics also help a lot in relationships, looking at a problematic behavior of a partner/friend/family member and considering what you may be leaving out. on one hand, I find their distance so difficult to tolerate, and on the other hand I can see why they need space to sort through this. Or This person drives me completely nuts when they do X, and at the same time I love them very much. #dialectics #DBT #skills #recoverylife #lifeworthliving #yougotthis #bothand #courage #brave #2020 #therapy #nyctherapist See more

EMOTION MIND! The state of mind where our behaviors are being driven by our emotions. Two tricky characteristics of emotion mind: 1. It’s hard to discern how far in emotion mind, we are until we are no longer in emotion mind. (We forget this every time we are in emotion mind ) 2. It has an urgent quality to it. ... 3. Emotion mind doesn’t respond well to reason. I am known for saying these things about emotion mind: 1. Let’s decide not to make any decisions about that for the next 72 hours. 2. Let’s put that problem on the shelf for a week and revisit when we are back in wise mind. 3. Emotion mind is no place for conducting business! Our thinking and judgment are very distorted when we are in emotion mind, and it can get really dicey when we combine that with an urge to act, right, right, RIGHT now. Ever been home sick in bed with the flu and feel an overwhelming urge to figure out your whole entire life?! I mean what else are you doing with this time?? So, you start thinking about your career, boss, partner, father, partners mother, etc. and then feel an urgent impulse to email, call or text said person about this line of thinking... STOP wait, emotion mind is no place to conduct business! 9/10 times you will wake up days later so glad you didn’t act on these urges because most like will no longer feel the same way about it. Things to keep in mind: 1. A good emotion mind test question is can this wait? If the answer is no it has to happen now, it’s likely you are knee deep in emotion mind. WAIT! Let it pass, then act when the calm of wise mind has returned. 2. When the content of your experience or the problem you are aiming to solve is, in fact, valid and justified, waiting to address it until you are back in wise mind is more effective. Because, guys- emotion mind is NO PLACE TO CONDUCT BUSINESS. #wait #wisemind #emotionmind #impulse #nownownow #thistooshallpass #skills #dbt #recovery #lifeworthliving #dialectic #nyctherapist

Because let's be honest, it just seems like it's getting harder and harder these days! 1. Mindfulness and Self-Fluency 2. Cope ahead and Have an "Oh Sh$t Plan" 3. Repair and Move on... #nyctherapist #mindfulness #skills #yougotthis #lifeishard #recoverylife

Back in the saddle! Not enoughness (adj.) the experience of feeling alone, judgmental, and critical of oneself, while operating with the belief that everyone else has figured this puzzle out and you are behind, late, or incompetent.

The difference between supporting someone with validation and hope vs toxic positivity. This is hard, I believe in you. Instead of Just be happy!