Using Voice Recognition Software: Challenging Panic Inducing Voices

Peace At Last

A client I will call “Joanne” * described how recognizing her inner voices has helped rid herself of panic attacks. Perhaps her recognition will inspire others to separate themselves from the shaming and suppressing voices that we all experience from time to time.

“When something GOOD happened, I used to get panicky. I used to think- or again- hear the voice that would say, ‘Something bad is going to happen now!’ Then I would freak out.

“Once I recognized that voice and could see it was not really ME, I could ask it, ‘What makes you say that?’ Or ‘What do you think is going to happen? Death, famine? What?’ The voice was then stumped and I could see that it didn’t really know about something awful about to happen. it was not an omniscient being.  It didn’t even make any sense. What a relief. I feel so grateful.”

So my hope is that we all continue to upgrade our voice recognition software.

* Therapists change the name and other identifying information so that a client’s confidentiality can be maintained

How Well Is Your Voice Recognition Software Working–Your Personal, Internal, Kind?

I just finished a session with a client I will call “Joanne.”* She has upgraded her internal voice recognition software and that has changed her life.

She wants to start her own business, and previously has felt too scared to leave her day job. Her work on herself is an example of what we can all do when we gain awareness and understanding of the internal voices that we all have.

Joanne says, “I am so happy about how I have changed. I don’t succumb to the voice in my head that says, whenever I think about starting my business, ‘Who do you think you are.’ I now see that the voice is my mother’s– NOT MINE. I even see her expressionless face as she says it. I can also hear my father’s kinder, but still suppressive voice, ‘You’re getting a little bit too big for your britches.’

“Before, I would get panicky when I heard those voices. I thought that I was the one thinking those thoughts- and I believed them. Now I can hear one of them say, “You need to go sit in the corner now.” I was panicking then because I knew on some level that I was being abandoned when I was excited and hopeful and feeling powerful. And I was being asked to not be who I was. I was also panicking recently because I soooo much want to start my business, and I know now that when I sit in a corner metaphorically, I am killing my spirit. But now that I know those voices are not ME I know that I can just notice them and go on doing what I think is right.

“ Wow. I feel so real and I feel so much power. I don’t think I’m crazy anymore for what I want. I can go for it!”

Recognizing and managing our self-diminishing inner voices makes so much possible for us. I wish that for everyone!

*therapists hide the names & other identifying characteristics of clients to protect their confidentiality

The Universal Human Need for Power and Our Ever Present Power of Choice

power of choice

Ever see a parent try to dress a 3 year old child in something s/he did not want to wear? I’ve seen that happen with much screaming, kicking and thrashing on the floor. By the child. Then, if the child persists in the power struggle, the parent may also feel like thrashing on the floor. The problem is the feeling of helplessness, impotence and perceived lack of power.

I saw another example of the effects of feeling powerless, when I saw a friend, an otherwise very sensible and thoughtful person, throw a tower computer across the room! What happened? He, a computer programmer and expert in his field, was frustrated at not being able to make a fix in a program. What was this about? His rage at feeling powerless.

Clearly the effects of feeling powerless can be harmful. We all NEED to have the power to control our bodies, to speak our thoughts and have them listened to, to go where we will, and to follow our own paths according to our inner direction. Interference with any of these power needs will cause distress and lowered self esteem–shame.

The opposite of powerless is the awareness that there is choice. The moment we recognize we have choice, we feel an increase in power. Even if it is only a choice of do you want to have your surgery before or after Easter? Even if it is only, Do I want to save, invest, or spend $100.

So I ask you, for today, what choices could you give yourself to empower yourself?