Most of us get into a cycle of negative thinking from time to time. Often, these thoughts are fairly transitory, they don’t last long and only have a short-term impact on our thinking. Sometimes, though, those negative thoughts become much more intrusive and overpowering. When this happens things have gone beyond worrying. We can feel as if we’re losing control of our thoughts altogether. Well, the good news is that there are steps you can take to oust these unwelcome thought visitors. Here are a few of the most effective.
Breaking the cycle of negative thinking
Firstly, refuse to fight with the thoughts. This sounds like a really bad idea but … think of it this way. If someone had grabbed your hand and you pulled away, chances are they would just hold on tighter. Negative thoughts do the same with your mind; the more you pull away, the tighter they grip.
Plus, of course, ‘try not to worry’ is about as helpful as ‘try not to think of a pink elephant’. The more you try NOT to think about it, the more you think about it.
An extended version of this article, along with lots of other (previously unpublished) effective and practical advice is now included in our book, Anxiety to Calm: a practical guide to a laid back life which is available in paperback and Kindle.
