and clinical psychologists have shown that the human nervous system cannot 

 tell the difference between an actual experience and an experience imagined 

 vividly and in detail. 



It is not necessary to wait around until one is old and gray and have 

 been through the wringer of life to learn to handle crises effectively. This 

 is why behavior rehearsal works. 



BEFORE 



Anyone who knows how to worry can make behavior rehearsal work. Worry 

 involves: thinking about some future event in gloomy detail; imagining some 

 undesirable outcome very vividly, going over and over the event and dwelling 

 on the terrible outcome; thinking of all the bad things that might happen 

 and how awful they are going to be; conjuring up the worst alternatives and 

 their devastating effects; looking at all aspects of an event as negatively 

 as possible and then moaning about them either silently or out loud. Worry 

 automatically generates feelings of fear, anxiety, and discouragement, which 

 are appropriate to the undesirable outcome being anticipated. 



Using a system similar to "worrying," "good" emotions can be generated 

 just as easily as "bad" ones. Constantly picturing a crisis and dwelling 

 upon de sirable end results will make the possibility seem more real. Appro- 

 priate emotions of enthusiasm, cheerfulness, and encouragement can auto- 

 matically be generated. The system involves concentrating on a desirable 

 goal, rather than an undesirable one; imagining a favorable outcome for the 

 crisis; assuming that this favorable outcome is possible; arousing a deep 

 desire for favorable results; becoming enthusiastic about them; dwelling 

 upon and reiterating them; thinking about what might happen and how to 

 handle it productively, considering the available options and the advantages 

 and disadvantages of each; taking the most difficult possibilities and 

 dealing with them in advance; putting one's imagination to work; digging out 

 more information, if necessary, and working out solutions. 



If this is done and each possibility is worked out in advance, then you 

 will be prepared to handle almost anything when and if it occurs. You also 

 will have the know-how to deal with any unexpected events that may arise. 

 These unanticipated alternatives should be kept as infrequent as possible by 

 spending adequate time doing your "homework." 



The beauty of this method is that it can be used by one person all alone 

 without involving a support team or cooperating agencies. It can be done in 

 Newton Corner, Twin Cities, or Anchorage. 



Working within one's own mind, important as it is, is just the first 

 level of behavior rehearsal. The second level is doing the same kind of . 

 thing involving others on the Response Team. This provides the opportunity 

 to deal with interactions between people and groups and may bring out some 

 conflicting goals. It also allows people to reinforce and educate each 



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