Commanding Myself As If I Were Someone Else

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I have noticed, especially lately, that sometimes the only way it is possible for me to do something is to command myself as if I were someone else. And it could even be for things that are like laundry or paying bills or showering, or that I should just do naturally like go to the bathroom or drink water or eat.

For example, I needed to drink because I have not had anything to drink at all today. There are times when I can think to myself, "I need to drink," and I will just have some water. But for instance, now, I can't do that. That thought is not enough to get me to drink. I have to say to myself, "Skibum, I need you to get a drink of water right now." Then I have to snap my fingers like I might do when strongly motivating a child and tell myself, "I mean now. Now get to it." Then at that point, I can actually do what I need to do. If I don't do that, there is no way I will be able to do what I need to do. It's almost like there is a mental block which is literally stopping me so someone else has to step in and get me to do it. But since no one else can step in, I become that someone else. And usually when I do that I hear those thoughts in my brother's voice because when I need that kind of assistance, he would normally be the one to give it to me if he was with me.

Does anyone else do this? Is this an Aspie thing? Do NTs do this too?

Hah! And they say Robin is the ONLY person who refers to himself in the 3rd person.

Skibum is in good company, isn't she!

This is a very good strategy. It's not new -- in fact it's very old. "Self-command" was always considered one of the old virtues.

Cool, that is encouraging then.

I self-command a lot, but often not in positive ways. I'm trying to get better at not abusing myself.

That is definitely not good. Try to literally see yourself as actually someone else when you self command. That will help you think of yourself as another persona and encourage you to be more respectful and compassionate to yourself. You can even give yourself a different name, like your middle name, to make it easier when you self command.

^I have too many Personas as it is. I feel like a total hypocrite for really detesting swear words yet swearing at myself in my head whenever another depression cycle rolls around. It's been like this for years, and I still don't know how to stop it or what even caused it to start.

I can relate to that. I used to be very hard on myself all the time and even when I would coach myself in sports. Than one day I had the bright idea to treat myself as I were one of my little kid students and talk to myself with the same firmness but gentleness as I would them. That really worked and my technique really improved as well. You would not curse at a little kid. You would be gentle with them even when correcting them. If you see yourself like that it could really help.

^Thank you kindly. I think my Child Persona had been hiding a lot and only really appearing when I do creative stuff. Now I think I can think of myself as a little child to be looked after and protected from negativity.

When I was younger I soothed myself with talks from my older self. The Older Dr. Laugh told me things would be OK and I would share what I learned.

My Dr. Laugh programs went from searching for the most laughs to more self revealation. Surprisingly that led to more laughter in certain spots than expected by this righter.

Me
"Reader and Righter"

I do this all the time. Mainly saying to myself right we're going to do (such and such) now. It's the main way I get things done.