Off the deep end exposure works for type A people because they are used to getting there way and are not going to let a little anxiety get in the way. There are two types of people by personality type an a flat scale Apples, type A are at one end and oranges are at the other. Most people fall somewhere in the middle. You have to if you are going to function in the world as it is nowadays. Some people are good at being apples in their job and oranges at home. Women more than men are required to do this if they want to work. Apple goes against their nurturing nature, yet is necessary in the competitive job field. For this reason more women suffer anxiety disorders. It is especially bad if their spouse is type A. There is no break from the stress. Type A people pass off their anxiety on others as a relief and this is called second hand anxiety.
Type A or Apple: Aggressive, monetary, money and status are the bottom line. Possessions including family and pets. Every thing in order and for show, not use. The perfect house and car. Often angry.
Orange: Compassionate and caring, artistic. Nurturing. Not a collector. Tools, car, house are to be used and shared but not abused. An orange would never walk on someone to get ahead.
These are the extremes, most people want to get ahead but want to do it comfortably.
Riders are thoughts, negative thoughts are okay as long as they have a positive rider. If they have a positive rider they become a fact. Like your word alone. It is a fact, that you want. And a fact you should be able to do since alone is a necessity sometimes and therefore normal. The fact it is normal is a positive rider making it a fact rather than an instruction. Right now it is a silent negative instruction. (I have to do this alone) Even though you know and I know you "want to" Amygdala's memory still registers it as some thing you have "had to" do. Drop the thought "alone" because it is negative right now. Once you do it then you can think, "I did it alone" and it becomes a positive fact on the actual action. If you do something alone you will be proud of the fact and it will enter memory in future as a positive. But if you think I have to do it alone to get better it stays negative and becomes a negative rider and interferes with the actual act. Positive Is. I'm alone and like being alone because I'm in control, no one is telling me how to do this but me. Make alone a good thing not a necessity. There are probably a few ways you can make alone a positive thing. Every negative has a positive flip side.
When you are successful reward yourself with "I won". It is assertive and good for the ego and self esteem without hurting anyone else. Then give yourself a reward you can hold in your hand. Careful you don't start doing things for the reward only. Remember what you are doing is normal. Every time you get to store something as a fact it dilutes Amygdala's memory. Soon you will have a whole new set of instructions for the negatives that happen in a day. These instructions cover all the negative not just specifics as in off the deep end exposure.
I did say this was work didn't I.
Davit.
