Being positive doesn’t mean ignoring the negative. Being positive means overcoming the negative. There’s a big difference between the two.
Often time, you might feel yourself struggling with the spiral of predicting and catastrophizing. Such negative thoughts can lead to overthinking, causing a real cost to your physical and mental well-being in the long run.
According to psychologists, letting the negative thoughts take over your mental health can be a root cause for health issues such as depression and anxiety. Believe it or not, that’s a common issue amongst US residents. And you wouldn’t want to be a part of that, right?
Thus, if you are feeling trapped in negative thoughts, here are some tips to keep your mental health in check. Read on to learn more about them.
Start by identifying the destructive thought pattern
Every individual has a distinctive mindset. Thus, the negative and destructive thought processes can be unique to each individual. If left unchecked, the thought patterns can trigger stress and incessant worrying.
So, once you start having negative thoughts, try to find out the reason for it. From past traumas to insecurities, there could be multiple reasons driving your thought patterns. Once you get familiar with the root cause of your negative thoughts, it will be easier for you to find the necessary solutions.
Don’t shy away from therapies
Amidst juggling the chaotic lifestyle, it is easier to keep your mental health on the back burner. And that’s no good. Just like your physical injuries, you need to find ways to deal with your mental injuries too. And that’s where cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) can help you with.
The therapy can help you focus on the thinking pattern, analyze your behaviour and nurture emotional response. It is also considered as one of the best ways to deal with mental issues such as depression, anxiety, ADHD, compulsive behaviours, and test anxiety. Additionally, numerous studies have shown that CBT is an effective treatment for childhood anxiety, helping them to make a smooth transition to adulthood.
For this, all you need to do is look for cbt therapists nyc and find professionals who are well-versed with the dynamics of the therapy. Once you are done with the sessions, you’ll see some notable changes in your behaviour and thinking pattern.
Reconnect with your hobbies
Boredom is one of the prominent reasons why your mind starts focussing on negative thoughts. Finding healthy distractions can help in keeping your mind busy and away from overthinking.
For this, it would be best to reconnect with the hobbies that leave you happy and content. Some of which may be knitting, drawing, painting, dancing, and others that act as a healthy distraction. You can also take it a notch higher by learning something new such as instruments or language. This way, you can trick your mind into focusing on something productive.
To sum up
Negative thoughts are an avoidable part of everyone’s life. Fortunately, the tips mentioned above can help you cope with them, ensuring sound mental health.
