What are free associations - this is a good old method that has been in service with psychotherapists in general and psychoanalysts in particular for more than a hundred years. Free associations are any thoughts, images, metaphors that appear in your head when you are faced with a certain object and phenomenon. For example, the word tree. When I hear the word “tree” I may have a variety of associations: leaves, crown, branches, cones, autumn. That is, association is snatching from your consciousness any word that is emotionally or logically connected in your head with the original word (event/phenomenon). It is worth clarifying here that there cannot be a correct or incorrect association. Any association that you manage to grab by the tail suits the purpose of the exercise. But I suggest focusing not on free, but on targeted associations. Targeted associations are associations that are modified and grouped into a chain. Indications: Any anxiety disorders Panic attacks Any need to reduce emotional stress. Advantage: This is a very convenient technique that clients can use without any therapist. If they know how to do it and what results can be obtained from it. How to use. Not entirely logical and reasonable. The “standard version” of the method involves an attempt to work with a person’s unconscious. The option I propose has a completely different goal. Namely, “zeroing the thought process.” After all, it is the flow of thoughts that strengthens and aggravates the state of a person who is making himself anxious. How this is done. Provide the client/anyone with the following explanation of the essence of free association. But you add the following rules: - for the exercise it is better to use only nouns. - you can only use monosyllabic words. - after the association (B) to the original word (A) is called, the next association is selected not to the original word (A), but to the association itself; that is, the goal is to build a chain of purposeful associations. That is, the chain of associations may look like this: Milk - cow - meadow - flowers - bees - honey - sweetness - taste... But not like this: Milk - healthy - take care of health - extremely important - What will happen. You you will be “stupid”, “freeze”, “slow down”... in general, you will find yourself in a state of the thought process in which thoughts will desperately resist their own appearance. And after “zeroing thoughts” comes calm. Of course, not from the first or second association. And from 6-10. But you will see the result, as they say, almost immediately. This technique works especially well at the height of emotional stress. And in writing. I would be grateful if you express your approval of this publication in the “say thank you” form below. It would also be interesting to hear constructive criticism in the comments. You can subscribe to my articles and blog posts here Do you want to learn how to manage your neurosis on your own? Take an online psychocorrection course individually or in a group! You may find my following articles useful: