“If only I could organize these papers!”
Many patients of mine who are in therapy complain about their inability to organize piles of papers, books or clothing. Others know they need medical attention but don’t call for a doctor or even a psychiatrist’s appointment. Others list their major life decisions they never get around to making. Here is where the therapist can help.
Procrastination, putting off to later what seems impossible to do now, is an often used reflex mechanism in psychology to reduce uncomfortable feelings. The discomfort aroused by the sight of the papers, the thought of the medical concern or the major decision that must still be made is temporarily reduced by a distraction. Doing something else simply feels better. These pleasant if short-lived feelings reinforce the habit of procrastinating, of never doing whatever seems difficult.
The typical counseling recommendation “Just do it” does not do the trick even if behavioral change is certainly needed. Most therapists encourage self-knowledge and an understanding of some frequently made cognitive errors which can effectively help you find the way out of the painful trap of procrastination. Have you already tried a combination of these in psychotherapy?
Debra BERG, The Bilingual Psychologist in Paris