Introvision advice
The introvision counseling is a guided instruction for mental self-regulation in internal conflicts.
Inner conflicts arise from the assumed violation of an ideal . It is feared that something will happen that must not happen, or that something will not happen that must absolutely happen. Both the inner thought that something bad is going to happen and the ideal notion that this shouldn't happen are underlaid with strong emotions , excitement, physical symptoms, images or sounds. This gives them a high quality content and is preferred by the subconscious and constantly recurring into consciousness. As a result, these thoughts are able to suppress rational and realistic thoughts. The strong emotions accompanying the internal conflicts take up space in working memory, which is why it is becoming increasingly difficult to solve intellectual tasks. This can lead to tunnel vision and panic attacks as the internal conflict progresses.
In the introvision counseling, the thoughts on which the inner conflict is based, the ideal ideas and the emotions, excitements, etc. connected to them are identified. By means of a wide-ranging attention and the transformation of the perceived (often unconscious) certainty that the bad will happen into a possibility, the strong emotions, excitements, etc. are decoupled from the thoughts and desired ideas. This dissolves the inner conflict. The thought of the bad that might happen loses its horror. Due to the lower value, the subconscious no longer gives priority to thoughts of the bad. This frees the client from this automatism.
Inner conflicts
The introvision helps to resolve internal conflicts and to create calm in relation to a difficult situation.
With inner conflicts all states are meant in which we have a feeling of urgency and distress, but also "a plank in front of our head" or a "tunnel vision" and eternally circling thoughts. This can lead to panic attacks and circulatory problems, e.g. B. with flight , speech and exam anxiety . Inner conflicts also show up, sometimes subtly, in interpersonal relationships and in relation to traumatic experiences.
An internal conflict always arises when we think about a situation and the thought comes to mind that something will not go the way we want it to or how it would actually be realistic. Even if the thought of the bad thing that could happen often lacks any realistic basis, these thoughts cannot simply be wiped away and are often associated with strong emotions (mostly stress ). These emotions can burden us so much that we do not have our full capacity in the specific situation. B. in exams, speeches or negotiations, and z. B. lose the necessary calmness and sovereignty in complicated interpersonal situations.
Development of introvision advice
Angelika Wagner ( University of Hamburg ) has been researching the development of mental blockages and internal conflicts for over 30 years. From this research she developed two theories that explain how these internal conflicts arise:
- the theory of subjective imperatives (TSI)
- the theory of mental introference (TMI)
Both theories are described in detail in her book ( → literature )
According to Wagner, the internal conflicts are based on two thoughts:
- the often subtle thought that something bad is about to happen in a situation
- and an inner imperative (self-command, should-do) that this must not happen.
Both thoughts are fraught with strong emotions.
When one understands how the human mind creates these conflicts, one is able to regulate this inner process and make sure that the conflict is resolved. In practice it has been shown that this resolution is permanent and in extreme situations, e.g. B. during a bad weather flight or a stressful meeting with certain people, the inner calm is maintained.
In introvision counseling, the imperatives are identified in conversation. The dissolution then happens through a wide-ranging attention with focus on the bad as something that can possibly happen. Through this far-reaching “look the bad in the eye”, the strong emotion that leads to tunnel vision and excitement is neurologically decoupled. Thereby the bad loses its horror.
Procedure of an introvision consultation
Introvision counseling begins with a training unit in a group or individually, in which, firstly, the background to how conflicts arise is conveyed and, secondly, the wide-ranging attention is trained with a constant focus. This is followed by individual advice on the specific conflict, which can take several sessions. In the course of these sessions, ever deeper imperatives (target ideas) are identified until a so-called core imperative is recognized. Core imperatives are of a fundamental nature and can be resolved by the client independently through introvision. This can be done very quickly (e.g. releasing fear of flying with extreme panic in just two sessions) or it can take up to ten sessions if the imperatives above require a lot of attention.
Some clients experience great relief when rather superficial imperatives can be resolved. For example, for many people the actual problem is not that bad, but rather it must not be that they have this problem. Resolving this imperative can be very easy and quick once it is recognized.
In the introvision counseling, old traumatic experiences are not activated, but only the accompanying emotions are looked at. This often makes it very easy for the client to resolve serious conflicts.
Self-introvision
During the introvision consultation, the client learns the method of introvision. In this way he is able to resolve imperatives he has recognized himself.
This happens through the identification of the reaction to the inner conflict. If z. If, for example, there is a lump in the throat during an upcoming speech, the client can focus his attention on it as a first aid measure and then move it far. Many physical symptoms can be soothed by this. Furthermore, he asks himself what it is, what he fears, what bad can happen, what must not happen.
By transforming the bad into a possibility and paying attention to the lump in the throat, the conflict that arises can resolve itself in a flash. However, this requires practice and routine.
Importance of introvision
1. The psychotherapy researcher Klaus Grawe writes in his book “Neuropsychotherapy” that the imaging procedures have shown that the known psychotherapy does not actually erase the programs in the amygdala (responsible for stress and anxiety), but only inhibit them. In particularly dire situations, the amygdala's fear programs would come into play again.
Introvision counseling has shown that resolved inner conflicts are not reactivated even in the worst of situations, but that people calmly, calmly and realistically look the worst in the eye. This suggests that introvision actually enables a neurological change in the amygdala. Klaus Grawe confirms this insofar as he assumes that there is a possibility of deletion if the client is willing to expose himself to the worst in everyday life and adopt a different attitude in the process. This is supported by the story of a hostage from the Mogadishu abduction, quoted by Angelika Wagner, who, by accepting the possibility of not surviving this abduction, was able to endure the hardships calmly and without fear. The PET examination of a possible deletion of the fear programs in the amygdala by introvision is still pending.
2. Self-introvision is a powerful method of mental self-regulation. As already described above, the client is able to resolve conflict situations himself through practice and routine. In specific situations, this can happen with an astonishing speed of a few seconds. For all people who are exposed to increased stress in direct contact with others (e.g. managers, teachers, etc.), the introvision can be an effective burn-out prophylaxis.
Individual evidence
- ^ Klaus Grawe: Neuropsychotherapy . Hogrefe, Göttingen 2004, p. 101ff.
- ↑ Angelika C. Wagner: Serenity through the resolution of inner conflicts. Kohlhammer, Stuttgart 2007, p. 13ff.
literature
- Angelika C. Wagner: Serenity through the resolution of inner conflicts . Kohlhammer, Stuttgart 2007, ISBN 978-3-17-018929-4 .
- Telse Iwers-Stelljes: Calm and capable of action: The integrative introversion counseling (QUIB) qualification module for acquiring personal and social skills in the pedagogy course . Klinkhardt, Bad Heilbrunn 2008, ISBN 978-3-7815-1586-4 .
- Britta Buth: Reducing Tinnitus Using Introvision: A Study . Vdm Verlag Dr. Müller, Saarbrücken 2007, ISBN 978-3-8364-2495-0 .
- Klaus Grawe: Neuropsychotherapy . Hogrefe, Göttingen 2004, ISBN 3-8017-1804-2