Methods of blocking negative thoughts

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any methods thanks :)

Category: asked September 24, 2014

3 Answers

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I've got this method from my therapist and it is really helping me. When you are having negative thoughts (e.g. I am worthless), you have to keep in mind that this is a thought but it doesn't mean it is true. We tend to take thoughts as the absolute truth, but they're not (you can think of blue elephants with green dots, right? doesn't mean they exist). So what you need to do is create distance between yourself and the thought, make sure you know that it is JUST a thought and not the truth. So instead of thinking "I am worthless" try to think "I realise that I have the thought that I am worthless". It sounds trivial but it actually helps because you realise that this is just something your brain is telling you and not the actual truth.There's another exercise that's quite good to just take your mind off things for a little while. Try to concentrate on 5 things you can see, 5 things you can hear, 5 things you can smell (doesn't actually have to be 5 things) and 5 things you can feel (like is the position comfortable etc?). When you're through that, do the same again using 4 things (preferably different), then 3, 2 and 1. It might appear stupid but it does help you concentrate on things around yourself rather than what is going on the inside. In order to make this method work, you have to do it before you get too much into the bad thoughts, so as soon as you feel negativity coming up - do it!
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Unless something UNUSUAL (like schizophrenia), is going on with you, negative thoughts are there for a reason. They are information that you are not happy with something. Instead of stopping them, listen to what they say -- discover what's making you unhappy, what exactly is bothering you. Then see what you can do, what action you can take, to make things better for yourself. See what you would like to happen in your life that would be a positive thing, that would make you happy, what would make you thrive.
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Try to keep yourself busy with doing the things you like or love. such as draw or sing, make music, watch TV listen to music etc. :)