Pavlov’s dog
Posted by Gypsy on Sep 21, 2006
When two events, related or not, always happen together, the mind begins to associate one with the other and have the same response even when only one of those events occurs. This is essentially what Pavlov learned during his experiments with his dog, food and a bell. Eventually the dog’s subconscious began to associate the bell with food coming and even when food wasn’t present, he would salivate at the sound of the bell.
This is a basic version of what I’m feeling right now, though there is no dog, no food, no bell. In my case, there is a man, a lie and me.
What I mean is, I can see an area in my life where I have a Pavlovian response even though I don’t want it and even know that this could be the time when there is no food.
Specifically, I’ve gotten into a routine. I won’t call it a rut, because I’ve very happy with it, but all day today I’ve had a nagging feeling that something bad is going to happen. I mean, with this situation, I know something bad is going to happen, but it’s something I’ve been able to prepare for. But I have the feeling something I can’t prepare for is going to happen. Because I have mild anxiety problems, paired with this feeling, I’ve spent all day with this awful feeling in the pit of my stomach. Even worse, the one thing I’ve been looking forward to and would’ve eased my fears tonight isn’t going to happen. So now I have this awful feeling and it’s worse because instead of my fears being laid to rest, they have been magnified.
I just have the nagging feeling I’m being lied to. I really have nothing to support these feelings except my Pavlovian response to the situation. I keep trying to get my brain to tell my emotions to settle down, but it’s just not working. I’m 99 percent sure I’m just being ridiculous, but I can’t get rid of that tiny feeling that I could be wrong. I’ve been so wrong so many times before in this situation that I just can’t trust myself anymore.
Or maybe the stress and exhaustion from the last couple weeks is finally catching up to me and I should just take a sleeping pill and go to bed.
Hey I was reading your blog and I noticed that you are public affairs and I was just trying to think who you are because I was in HHC USAG working in the Emilpo (PAS) section and so I might know you. Right now I am in Iraq and blah blah blah blah blah, but Sikorski, Brady was my soldiers and so was SSG Maston. So by chance do you know me? Do me a favor and email with either a yes or a no my email is *removed*
Also, sorry about your husband, but if you are any of the females I knew, youll be okay.
Oh, I am kinda lost–but I am thinking about you. Keep me posted.
Love,
M
PS Loved the zippo present.
“I don’t know what you just said little kid, but your special”.
Seriously, it sounds like your brain is just working to much, which is a lot better than not working at all.
The quote ” We have nothing to fear but fear itself” might fit. No matter what happens, you will get through it and be a better person for it. No since in worrying.
“You getting a dog?”.