Overcoming Negative Thoughts

 To have negative thoughts it something that is a normal everyday occurrence for most people. It's ok to have a negative thought every once in a while, but it can become a problem when you're having negative thoughts all the time. Things like self doubt and worry can lead to things like stress, anxiety, and depression. Hopefully with some awareness and practice it's possible to overcome these thoughts.

The first step is to understand negative thought patterns. These include some cognitive distortions that are irrational or exaggerated ways of thinking. Some common Cognitive distortions include, All-or-nothing thinking (seeing situations in black-and-white terms, Catastrophizing (expecting the worst-case scenario), Overgeneralization (drawing broad conclusions from single incidents), and Personalization (assuming responsibility for things beyond your control). By recognizing what these thought patterns are we can move forward to change how we think.

The next step is to cultivate positive self talk. This involves replacing self critical or negative thoughts with positive or good ones. Some ways to do this include practicing self-compassion or treating ourselves with kindness and understanding, especially in times of difficulty. Also using affirmations like repeating positive statements or affirmations to counteract negative self-talk. Reframing failures as learning opportunities this includes, viewing setbacks as temporary and focusing on lessons learned rather than failures. Finally, Celebrating achievements, this includes acknowledging our accomplishments and strengths, no matter how small.

By making these changes especially incorporating positive self talk, can help a persons overall mental health. This can also help boost a persons self-esteem and resilience to future issues people may face in life. 

Comments

  1. Nika DorseyMarch 20, 2024 at 6:01 PM

    You've provided some excellent techniques for controlling negative thoughts! It is true that understanding cognitive distortions and engaging in constructive self-talk can significantly alter how we view and handle problems. It's also critical to keep in mind that dealing with recurring negative thought patterns may benefit from getting support from friends, family, or mental health specialists. Overall, developing a good mindset and healthy coping mechanisms can significantly improve mental health. Great insight Isis!

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