Choosing the right therapist. What to look for?
August 25, 2023
What are negative thoughts?
Negative thoughts are thoughts about oneself, others, or the world generally characterized by cynical perceptions, expectations, and attributions. These thoughts are associated with unpleasant emotions and adverse behavioral, physiological, and health outcomes.
Incessant negative thoughts tend to magnify the problem beyond its actual size in our thoughts. Over time, these thoughts will have detrimental impacts on the mind, robbing you of joy and a sense of fulfillment in life. It also weakens the mind and depletes positiveness, leading to unhappiness and a sense of purposelessness.
Read the list below and identify how you may participate in negative thinking:
- I ruminate on the unpleasant parts of past incidents and try to manipulate outcomes in the future.
- I seek validation from specific people to be happy.
- I blame others when things don’t go my way.
- My self-worth depends on others’ actions, and if events don’t go as planned, I feel disappointed.
We may relate to these thoughts with different levels of intensity.
What causes negative thinking?
Negative thoughts have various reasons, such as stress, anxiety, and upsetting life events. These thoughts can also stem from feelings of inadequacy, fear of failure, and low self-esteem. It’s important to acknowledge these thoughts and work on reframing them in a more positive light.
Different types of negative thinking.
Negative thoughts can be incredibly powerful and have varying levels of impact on different individuals. Depending on one’s personality, certain negative thoughts may resonate more deeply than others and influence overall mental well-being. It’s important to recognize these patterns and work towards addressing them healthily and productively.
The different types of negative thinking thoughts include:
Disqualifying the positive.
Sometimes, we can be our own worst enemy when it comes to maintaining negative beliefs. We often focus on negative experiences and dismiss the positive ones, which can further reinforce our negative mindset.
Mental filter.
We tend to focus on one negative detail about someone, a situation, or what we are doing, encouraging ourselves to cancel everything that may be positive or working in our favor.
Jumping to conclusions.
Sometimes, we jump to negative conclusions without enough evidence to back up our thoughts or hear the whole story. We often assume people have negative reactions towards us without evidence and don’t bother to confirm it.
Labelling and mislabeling.
We label ourselves in degrading terms such as “loser” or “stupid” and beat ourselves up when we make mistakes. We also attach negative labels to others when their behavior bothers us.
Personalization
Personalization is where a person assumes that everything others do or say is a direct attack or personal response to them. They take everything personally, even when it isn’t meant to be represented that way.
The impact of negative thoughts.
Here is a list of a few impacts of negative thoughts:
- It affects our physical and mental health.
- It affects our friendships and intimate relationships.
- It weakens our determination and hinders our ability to grow positively.
- It can lead to severe anxiety, depression, rebellion, self-harm, or harm to others.
- It can lead to psychosomatic illnesses, including cardiovascular disease, diabetes, obesity, asthma, epilepsy, and cancer.
- In severe cases, it can lead to debilitating personal, social, and occupational problems and even premature death.
How to overcome negative thinking?
Physical.
Working out, taking medication, doing breathing exercises, listening to relaxing music, having a to-do list, or having a healthy daily regime help engage the mind positively.
Psychological
Some popular psychological solutions include affirmations, mindfulness, seeking help from a mental health professional, and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). CBT involves keeping a thought diary and replacing negative thoughts with positive ones.
Spiritual
Spiritual practices, such as prayer, reading spiritual literature, and surrounding oneself with like-minded individuals, can be powerful tools for overcoming negative thoughts. These practices generate positive energy, protecting against negative energies and countering adverse destiny.
Conclusion.
Negative thoughts can be overwhelming and feel like they’re taking over your life. It’s important to remember that you’re not alone in this struggle. Many people suffer from negative thoughts, and finding a suitable solution can be difficult.
Some people rely on physical activities, like exercise or yoga, to help clear their minds. Others turn to therapy or medication to address the psychological root of their negative thoughts. Whatever path you choose, know that hope and help are available to overcome this challenge.
If you want more information or are looking for a therapist to guide you on your journey to positive thinking and a healthy mind, visit us at https://evolvinu.com/ to learn about us and our services. It’s time to embrace your metamorphosis!
Source of information
https://www.spiritualresearchfoundation.org/spiritual-practice/steps-of-spiritual-practice/personality-defect-removal-and-improvement/how-to-stop-negative-thoughts/?gclid=CjwKCAjwivemBhBhEiwAJxNWN5c9UTlMGDuxmTrKoAzNYD16ioihHg7MqBSJZDNNyyAFUU0aMm67dRoC0-oQAvD_BwE
