How To Overcome Negative Thoughts In Your Daily Life
In most cases, negative thoughts are not a psychological problem in themselves; They are just a reflection of a world in which many times things do not turn out the way we would like, not even what comes to mind.
Just as the world at large is not designed to fit our interests and preferences, Mental processes, which largely escape our control, reflect this diversity of good and bad experiences.and they do not have to correspond to our tastes.
However, there are cases in which negative thoughts that cause discomfort become part of the problem. This occurs particularly when we “go into a loop” and they also become intrusive thoughts, which come to our minds again and again despite (or precisely because of) how bad they make us feel.
However, when faced with these kinds of problems there are several things we can do. Here you will find some of these proposals in the form of tips to know how to overcome negative thoughts that are repeated too much.
The first thing you should know is that the most effective way to deal with problematic negative thoughts (that is, those that generate very intense discomfort and that are repeated too frequently) is Go to the psychologist.
It is not necessary to have developed a psychological disorder to benefit from professional support of this type: if you have significant difficulties in managing your emotions and the thoughts associated with them, going to professionals is the best option. This way you will have an expert who will supervise your particular case and design a psychological “training” program adapted to your characteristics and needs.
Now, if you consider that the discomfort caused by negative thoughts does not constitute a problem that deserves psychological assistance, you can choose to introduce some changes in your daily life. Here you will find a summary of the most important and easiest to apply, although you must keep in mind that achieving absolute control of your thoughts is impossible, for good and bad.
1. Do not try to keep your consciousness clear of negative thoughts
As I mentioned before, it is not realistic to try to completely block negative thoughts. But not only is it impossible; Furthermore, trying to do so is counterproductive, because it leads us to put ourselves in a state of alarm to try to be police of our own conscience. This It leads us to predispose ourselves to attract towards it those thoughts to which we give more importanceincluding those we want to eliminate.
2. Understand what makes you anxious
You have been experiencing thoughts that cause stress or distress in you for some time, but that doesn’t mean you understand. But if you understand the logic behind the appearance of these intrusive thoughts, you will reduce their power.
For it, limit yourself to observing the content of those thoughts as if you were a third person that takes note of what goes through your mind. In this way you will detect themes and generalities in the contents of those thoughts, and you will begin to see them not so much as an element of life that you cannot avoid, but as a construction of your mind, with its own stereotypes, narrative resources, simplifications, etc. .
3. Keep a clear sleep schedule
One of the moments in which recurring negative thoughts cause the most havoc is when we are trying to fall asleep, with hardly any sensory stimuli to distract us from our thoughts and feelings. the predisposition to worry if we notice that something is keeping us awake.
To minimize the chances of having problems in this regard, it is important to have a clear sleep schedule and, if we notice that it is difficult for us to fall asleep, get out of bed for 15 or 20 minutes and do some relaxing and non-physically or intellectually demanding activity before sleeping. try to sleep again.
4. Learn how to reset
When you notice that you are in an anxious state that predisposes you to “go into a loop,” do a simple activity that allows you to focus your attention on short-term goals: go for a run, read, meditate, etc. Think that it is not wasted time, but rather that its beneficial psychological effects will allow you to focus and perform better when carrying out the tasks and responsibilities that you must fulfill.
People in good physical condition are less likely to suffer from problems managing their emotions.. Eat well (without obsessing about your diet), exercise regularly, and take care of yourself in general.
Do you want to have the help of a psychologist?
If you notice that recurring negative thoughts significantly affect your quality of life, I suggest you contact me. I am a psychologist who is an expert in cognitive-behavioral psychology and I attend online by video call or in person at my office in Madrid.
