Three States of Mind: Reasonable Mind, Emotion Mind, and Wise Mind

Have you ever wondered why people make poor decisions over and over again, even when they know there will certainly be a negative outcome? Often times we are ruled by certain states of our mind without having the knowledge or tools to cope with distressing emotions, thoughts, and compulsive behavioral patterns. DBT therapy teaches clients to learn to distinguish between different parts of the thought and emotion process before making decisions that could potentially be harmful and compulsive. The three states of mind include: reasonable mind, emotion mind, and wise mind.

Reasonable mind is the state of mind that is rational. Reasonable mind is needed for tasks such as, planning, evaluating, solving logical problems, balancing a checkbook, and so forth. Reasonable mind is necessary, but can prove to be detrimental if one stays stuck in purely logical thinking patterns. If emotions are overlooked when making important decisions, such as, choosing a place to live, applying to colleges, and finding a job then one could potentially settle and end up unhappy with their decision.

Emotion mind is the state of mind that is hot and emotion ruled. When one is in their emotion mind, logic is overlooked and behaviors are purely based on the state of how one feels. In this state of mind emotions are in charge and impulsive decisions often follow. Emotions are very powerful motivators for behaviors, but decisions based on negative emotions without thinking about the logical consequences can prove to be detrimental.

When emotions are strong and the urges to act on them are also strong, behavioral patterns are typically out of sync with one’s core values.

Wise mind is the state of mind in which one can synthesize the reasonable mind and emotion mind to make a decision that is based on intuition. Wise mind decisions require that one can learn to trust their intuitive state of mind, learn to utilize mindfulness skills to get into a wise mind state before acting and/or reacting, and learn to experience a state of peace rather than basing decisions on surface experiences.

“Wise mind is a deep, centered place where a person knows something very clearly. Wise mind is receptive and open. It accepts rather than judges.  It is patient rather than impatient” (Safer, Telch, & Chen 2009).

If you are struggling with getting to know your wise mind and feel that you are making decisions that are harming you more than helping, please contact our office to schedule an appointment with one of our trained therapist. At Rehabilitative Health Services we offer both individual and group DBT therapy to ensure that the needs of our clients are being met. Contact our office at 208-523-5319 to schedule your appointment.

Stephanie Shirley, LMSW

Sources

Safer, L. S., Christy, F. T., & Eunice Y. C. (2009). Dialectical Behavioral Therapy for Binge Eating and Bulimia. New York, NY: Guilford Publishing, Inc. 

Bipolar

Bipolar is a brain disorder that affects about 5.7 million Americans every year (2). Bipolar causes abnormal shifts in moods, energy, and activity levels.  These shifts can cause a disruption in a person’s ability to carry out daily routines. 

Bipolar was first discussed in the Nineteenth Century by Jules Baillarger and Jean-Pierre Falret who both presented their description of the disorder to the Académie de Médicine in Paris. It wasn’t until in the early 1900’s that German psychiatrist Emil Kraepelin studied Bipolar and discovered that there are periods of symptom-free intervals between the manic and depressive episodes and because of this he coined the phrase Manic-Depressive Psychosis.  The terms Bipolar and Manic-Depressive Illness are both used to name the same disorder but Bipolar disorder was thought to be less stigmatizing so it is the term used today. (3)

Bipolar disorder is usually diagnosed by a doctor or mental health provider. There are four types of Bipolar that can be diagnosed: Bipolar I Disorder, Bipolar II Disorder, Bipolar Not otherwise Specified, and Cyclothymic Disorder.  Bipolar I disorder is defined as manic or mixed episodes that last at least seven days and depressive episodes that typically last two weeks. Bipolar II Disorder is defined as depressive episodes with hypomanic episodes but not full manic episodes.  Cyclothymic Disorder is a mild form of Bipolar disorder with hypomania and mild depression that last at least two years, yet the symptoms don’t meet requirements for the other forms of bipolar. (1)

The symptoms of bipolar are periods of mania followed by periods of depression; these are distinguished by how people act while in each respective period. During the manic phase a person may talk fast, have racing thoughts, be easily distracted, have increased activities, be overly restless, have little to no sleep, have unrealistic beliefs in their abilities, and become impulsive.  During the Depressive period a person is usually overly tired, have trouble concentrating, have trouble making decisions, be irritable, have changes in eating, sleep more, and have increased thoughts of death or suicide. (1)

With the right treatments, Bipolar can be managed over a long period of time.  The treatments for Bipolar disorder are medication management and psychotherapy; these are best used in conjunction with each other. Mood stabilizer medications are usually the first choice to treat Bipolar and can help reduce the manic and depressive episodes that are caused by Bipolar.  Psychotherapy is another form of treatment that helps a person with Bipolar learn to manage their symptoms. (1)

Bipolar effects millions of people every day but with education and the right treatments it is able to be managed so that people can live a full life

Dave Homer, LMSW

Sources

(1) Bipolar Disorder in Adults. (2012). Retrieved November 30, 2015, from http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/bipolar-disorder-in-adults/index.shtml#pub18

(2) Bipolar Disorder Statistics. (2015). Retrieved November 30, 2015, from http://www.dbsalliance.org/site/PageServer?pagename=education_statistics_bipolar_disorder

(3) Burton, N. (201, June 21). A Short History of Bipolar Disorder. Retrieved November 30, 2015, from https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/hide-and-seek/201206/short-history-bipolar-disorder