How to get out of your Head
9 Tips to Stop Overthinking
Jeanette Clare
Insightful Article
Western therapy-based Acceptance and Commitment Therapy
(ACT) has been developed over the past 30 years and has become increasingly
popular.
Dr. Russ Harris, well-renowned ACT trainer, has written a number
of great books on ACT including the very popular The Happiness Trap and
has a website with some excellent resources. Here is the link https://www.actmindfully.com.au/.
Most Western models of therapy are focused on the reduction of
symptoms such as stress, anxiety, and depression. What differentiates ACT
is that quality of life is mostly dependent on action in alignment with your
values.
The goal is to change your relationship with the symptoms you
have, rather than trying to get rid of them, so that they no longer hold you
back from living a fulfilling life.
In a nutshell, the main aim of ACT is to increase psychological
flexibility which is defined as the ability to contact the present moment more
fully as a conscious human being, and to change or persist in behaviour when
doing so serves valued ends.
According to Dr. Russ Harris, there are six core processes
in ACT.
1. Contacting the Present Moment
2. Defusion (Watch your Thinking)
3. Acceptance (Open Up)
4. Self-as-Context
5. Committed Action
6. We experience a sense of vitality
In summary, ACT stands for:
A= Accept your thoughts and feelings and be present
C= Choose a valued direction
T= Take action.
Read the full Article here
