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This article was co-written by Trudi Griffin, LPC, MS. Trudi Griffin is a licensed professional counselor in Wisconsin. She received her MS in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Marquette University in 2011.
There are 23 references cited in this article that you can view at the bottom of the page.
This article has been viewed 5,306 times.
If certain thoughts or memories make you feel sad or anxious, you are probably looking for an outlet to stop worrying about these thoughts. Finding distractions can help you stop having negative or depressing thoughts. Everyone has stressful things that they don’t want to think about. However, sometimes these thoughts point to a serious problem such as anxiety, depression, or post-traumatic stress. Remember that often the only way to really get over unpleasant thoughts or events (like abuse, catastrophic accidents, mental illness, etc.) is to discuss them with a mental health professional. . You can begin to deal with the cause of your preoccupation with negative or unhelpful thoughts by getting to know them.
Steps
Soothe the mind
- Journaling allows you to acknowledge your thoughts and feelings, and give them space just to exist. Journal whenever you feel overwhelmed by things you don’t want to think about. Write them down on paper, then close the diary, walk away, and do something else.
- Try to think of a time when unwanted thoughts start to appear. Did something provoke them? Any experience related to them? Are the thoughts that come up that interfere with your ability to enjoy your day-to-day life?
- Journaling can improve mental stability by releasing symptoms of anxiety and depression. Writing these thoughts down in a journal can also create awareness of unpleasant thought patterns and help you understand potential triggers. [2] X Trusted Source University of Rochester Medical Center Go to Source
- Journaling about unwanted thoughts can help discuss repressed memories. If you have experienced a lot of abuse or had a difficult childhood, journaling should only be with the help of a therapist.
- Find other sources of self-esteem. Perhaps you are constantly thinking about an acknowledged weakness because you see it as an important part of your concept of self and personal uniqueness. In addition to one drawback, highlight other areas where you have talents and strengths. That way, any criticism (from others or yourself) won’t stress you out too much.
- Solve each problem. If you find yourself brooding over a problem, make an effort to solve it. This may seem overwhelming at first, but if you break the larger problem into smaller pieces, you can work on solving them one at a time. Well, the problem doesn’t seem so scary.
- Abandon strict expectations and standards. Some people expect 100% perfection all the time or effort from themselves or other things. They are unreasonable and unattainable expectations that prevent you from adapting to life’s challenges. [4] X Trusted Source American Psychpogical Association Go to the source If you are one of those people, you may begin to feel inferior or frustrated when you cannot meet your standards. Constrain yourself to have reasonable expectations of yourself and others. Remember everyone is just human – and humans are not perfect.
- If you are a beginner, choose a quiet place with few distractions. Sit comfortably in a chair or on a mat on the floor. Cross your legs (if sitting on the floor). Sit with your upper body straight and your hands on your thighs. Breathe deeply and purify, inhaling through your nose and exhaling through your mouth. Focus on the breath – just focus on the breath. When you find yourself losing attention to your breath, just take note and re-focus on your breath and stay still.
- For starters, aim for 5 or 10 minutes of mindfulness meditation before practicing for a longer period of time.
- Some forms of mindfulness meditation encourage you to focus solely on your breath while others acknowledge every thought that comes to your mind. To determine which form of mindfulness meditation is right for you, check out the Greater Good article in English. [6] X Trusted Source Greater Good Magazine Go to Source
- When you wake up in the morning, take a deep, calm breath. Do some gentle stretching and think about how each stretch will make the muscles and joints in your body feel. Drink a glass of water and pay attention to the temperature, stability, and how you feel when the water runs down your throat. Be realistic when doing each activity of the day like bathing, brushing teeth, eating, drinking, working, etc.
- As you complete each activity, refrain from making judgments about what you’re doing or letting your mind wander. When you find your mind wandering, focus back on the activity you’re doing and consider how it affects your senses.
Be creative
- One caveat to consider when cooking or baking is not to let this activity turn into unhealthy behavior where you overeat to ease an uncomfortable mood or distract yourself from your thoughts. bored. Involve others as you cook to reduce the risk of you eating emotionally – and to help you clear the dishes afterwards. [9] X Research Source file:///C:/Users/User/Downloads/Eating.pdf
- Find puzzles that you love and you want to focus on. Puzzles and Sudoku are puzzles that are easy to find almost anywhere.
- You can also try jigsaw puzzles, if you like putting things together. Seeing the puzzle pieces arranged can also give you a sense of success.
- Many mobile apps and websites feature jigsaw/puzzle games, so you can play this healthy distraction anywhere.
Using entertainment to distract
- Understand that watching too much TV is a passive sitting behavior that is associated with shorter life expectancy and obesity. [11] X Research Source
- Avoid snacking while watching TV as this can lead to mindless eating, and can only make you feel worse.
- Try balancing the time you watch TV with physical activity like watching TV while working out on a treadmill or elliptical. If you don’t have those devices, just do a few exercises while watching an ad or about every 15 to 20 minutes.
- Music with about 60 beats per minute can encourage brain waves to synchronize with that rhythm, bringing about a pleasant state.
- While many believe that only “light” music, such as classical, jazz, or New Age music, is relaxing, new studies suggest otherwise. A recent study demonstrated that listening to “heavy metal music” helped study participants process angry emotions and regain positive and even inspired feelings. excited. [13] X Research Source The most important thing is what kind of music works best for you. Listen to your favorite music and feel the connection.
- Research demonstrates that more than 2 hours of technology use is potentially harmful to children’s health, leading to weight gain, agitation, and sleepiness or startling. Try to limit your technology time to other things like spending time with friends or family or going out. [14] X Research Source
- Make sure you read something light or funny instead of heavy, upsetting topics that preoccupy you with unwanted thoughts.
Do exercise
- You may find that adding a few drops of lavender oil to your bath can also help you feel more comfortable and relaxed. [22] X Trusted Source Science Direct Go to Source
Spend time with others
- If your friends, parents, siblings, or loved ones live near you, make an appointment for a date. Go out together. Go to the movies, go bowling, swim, or enjoy a common hobby together.
- Spending time with other people not only makes you feel happy, it also prolongs your life. Now scientists are comparing loneliness to the equivalent of smoking – it’s bad for your mental and physical health. [23] X Research Sources
- Volunteering also generates many health benefits. It can alleviate loneliness and depression, and also help you feel more connected to the community. Research has also proven that people who have a genuine reason to give back to the community (that is, helping others instead of helping themselves) live longer. [24] X Trusted Source Harvard Medical Schop Go to Source
Advice
- Surround yourself with positive people and pursue hobbies to avoid preoccupation with unwanted thoughts.
Warning
- If distracting yourself from a thought leads to unhealthy behaviors like binge eating, drinking, or taking drugs, you need to see a mental health professional. They can help you develop healthier coping strategies for overcoming discouraging thoughts or stressors.
- Repetitive troubling thoughts may represent obsessions associated with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). In addition to compulsive behaviors such as checking and having repetitive rituals, OCD is also associated with obsessions such as excessive worry, preoccupation, or fear. [25] X Research Resources See a mental health professional if you are experiencing these symptoms.
This article was co-written by Trudi Griffin, LPC, MS. Trudi Griffin is a licensed professional counselor in Wisconsin. She received her MS in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Marquette University in 2011.
There are 23 references cited in this article that you can view at the bottom of the page.
This article has been viewed 5,306 times.
If certain thoughts or memories make you feel sad or anxious, you are probably looking for an outlet to stop worrying about these thoughts. Finding distractions can help you stop having negative or depressing thoughts. Everyone has stressful things that they don’t want to think about. However, sometimes these thoughts point to a serious problem such as anxiety, depression, or post-traumatic stress. Remember that often the only way to really get over unpleasant thoughts or events (like abuse, catastrophic accidents, mental illness, etc.) is to discuss them with a mental health professional. . You can begin to deal with the cause of your preoccupation with negative or unhelpful thoughts by getting to know them.
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