What is psychological flexibility and inflexibility? How does it affect our mental health and dealing with struggles like anxiety, depression, OCD, and even viewing pornography? In this episode of the Life After Series Radio Podcast, Dr. Cameron Staley discusses psychological flexibility AND inflexibility. There are lots of ways to conceptualize mental health. One way ACT views mental health is this idea of psychological flexibility. This is when we are able to respond to the actual demands to our environment in this moment, in the place we are at. Having the flexibility to notice thoughts and emotions and then choosing our own actions is usually a good indication of solid mental health.

On the flipside, psychological inflexibility can predict all kinds of mental health concerns one of which is the struggle with pornography. In this episode, we walk you through some of the concepts that go into this idea of psychological inflexibility.

Concept #1: How Present We Are In Any Given Moment

Are we locked into the past?  Do we dwell on previous failures and regrets? This can lead to lots of experiences with depression. Flip side...people focused on the future and worrying about the  “What If?” experience a little more anxiety. Can you be present in this moment? Worrying about the future or dwelling on the past is partly a product of language. The more we are at present-focused allow us to respond to what the demands are in front of us right now.

Concept #2: Not Having A Clear Picture On What You Value Most Out Of Life.

Not having purpose to guide our actions. So if you're unsure about what brings you meaning, what you’re working towards your going to have a pretty aimless life and your actions may not lead to the things that you want. Setting the right goals is so vital for this concept. Some of us know these values and have goals, but struggle living up to them. First step, do you know what you value in life? Second, are you living consistent with it? Are you engaging with the activities that help you on that pursuit.

Concept #3: Do We Struggle With Our Thoughts, Emotions, And Urges?

Think about how often we do that throughout the day.  There's often thought patterns that I don't like that I'm struggling with. Battling with them trying to get rid of them. It’s kind of like wrestling with a pig and where you both get muddy and the pig loves it. Those thoughts don't go away. If anything they get stronger and intensify and you get wrapped up in them. The more we struggle with this concept of struggling with our thoughts, emotions, and urges...that’s inflexibility. And this is what I see often with pornography. We have this thought that we should be able to control these urges. And since we can have that thought, we believe it to be true. We over-believe our thoughts.

Concept #4: Do We Allow Those Thoughts, Emotions, And Urges To Dictate Our Actions?

This is when we act from that world of reaction. Those who struggle with unwanted pornography are used to this pattern. They have an urge to view, so they view. There’s no space in between that urge and that action. This is where awareness comes into place. We’re able to reflect and notice urges and emotions. As we engage in that process of slowing down and being mindful, unlocks a world. And we are able to respond to urges instead of reacting to them.

The LifeAfterPornography Online Program: www.LifeAfterPornography.com

LifeAfterPornography Free Training: http://www.lifeafterpornography.com/LAP-starter-pack

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thelifeafterseries/

In this episode of the Life After Series Radio Podcast, we discuss the mission and purpose of the Life After Series podcast. We’ll discuss mental health, how to be kinder to ourselves, and other concerns we struggle with. In upcoming episodes, Dr. Cameron Staley will discuss different concerns we struggle with: anxiety, depression, relationship issues, and overcoming unwanted pornography.

The first program The Life After Series launched was the LifeAfterPornography (LAP) online self-directed program. With LAP, we guide people through a 10 week, program based on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) shown effective in research to reduce unwanted pornography.

Instead of trying to control unwanted thoughts, emotions, or urges, ACT encourages us to get in touch with our values and begin building the life we want instead of trying to continue an unwinnable battle with ourselves. There are over 300 Randomized Clinical Trials on the effectiveness of ACT on addressing many mental health concerns. Importantly, ACT is the only approach I have found with scientific support for reducing unwanted pornography viewing!

Often our attempts to fix our challenges, oftentimes becomes part of the reason why we’re struggling and can actually make our problems worse. Sometimes the way we were “taught” to overcome a struggle may not be the best approach and we have to be able to take a step back and evaluate whether or not our efforts are actually working. Through mindfulness, we are able to accomplish just that!

Why did Dr. Cameron Staley start LifeAfterPornography.com? He knew it was time to share what he had learned with the world about cutting edge mental health treatments for the concerns that impact us today!

The LifeAfterPornography Online Program: www.LifeAfterPornography.com

LifeAfterPornography Free Training: http://www.lifeafterpornography.com/LAP-starter-pack

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thelifeafterseries/

To Learn More About LifeAferPornography…

What Is LifeAfterPornography: https://youtu.be/uRsDRWV22Jc

Dr. Staley’s Story: https://youtu.be/1ehv9FFf_yg

An Overview Of The Program: https://youtu.be/ZLnW3zx-xrw

Free Lesson From The Program: https://youtu.be/W_y5xl_BOW4

Episode Highlights:

Instead of focusing on getting rid of symptoms like depression, anxiety, or maybe unwanted pornography viewing...we could focus more on our values. Building a life we really want.

It’s [ACT] an alternative approach to the way our mind typically solves problems.

Often our attempts to fix our challenge, whatever that challenge is, often becomes part of the reason why we’re struggling, or maintains the struggle, or sometimes makes it even worse.

Step back. And observe our attempts (to stop our problems) a little more.

People have really strong beliefs about pornography...and addiction.

My only goal is to be helpful.

I don’t believe that one approach is best. I’m just most interested in helping overcome challenges and begin living the life they want. And I’ve found this approach to be really helpful in a lot of situations like pornography.

It’s hard to have a lot of compassion for differences. People have good reasons to be heated.

I care about those who have strong reactions.