MENTAL SLIPPAGE - LOSS OF COMMAND AND CONTROL
I was working in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia during the Gulf War in 1991. This war pointed out how important command and control are when engaged in military conflict.
The military selected command and control centers as their initial targets. They knew if they destroyed them, they would effectively decapitate the enemy. The forces in the field would no longer be controlled by a coordinated central command. The defensive structure of the enemy would collapse in an uncoordinated manner like a house of cards.
When there is no one in command, there is loss of control.
The same thing happens in depression.
Command and control of thoughts becomes a major issue.
Depression takes command, and you no longer control the thoughts that rumble through your mind.
People who are healthy don't have a problem with command and control.
They are in command, and they control the content of their thoughts.
One way to tell if a person is clinically depressed is to look at command and control.
If they are in command of their mind, and if they control the content of their thoughts, then they are not seriously depressed. They may feel sad or down, but when push comes to shove, they assume command of their mind, and they are able to control the content to a significant degree.
When they lose command and control, they slide down the slippery slope of depression.
Destructive, out of control automatic thoughts are the hallmark of the loss of command and control found in depression.
All of us experience automatic thoughts that pop into our mind, but our automatic thoughts don't control us.
They may annoy us, but if we are healthy, they are only an intermittent irritation that we can live with. We wish they would go away, and the sooner the better, but at least they don't control us.
People with clinical depression have automatic thoughts that control their life, and those thoughts are more than a minor irritation; they take over. They become a major stressor that wears them down and out.
When automatic thoughts take over, when command and control passes out of your hands, it's time for intervention by a trained professional. Until you reestablish command and control, you will not get better.
If you are seriously depressed, you may need medication to rebalance the chemistry of your brain to reestablish command and control.
Once the chemistry of your brain moves in a positive direction, you are able to regain control of your thoughts.
After you reestablish control, you have the possibility of eliminating your twisted thoughts and distorted emotions.
Excerpt from :
Zero Tolerance To Negative Thinking : Good-by Depression - Hello Positive Mind
