‘Sometimes it might be phrases that come up particularly often, or situations you are typically having negative thoughts towards. ‘After a week of doing this challenge, you may start to notice a pattern of negative thinking,’ Claire tells us. ‘Then, beside that negative thought, put the opposite positive one.’ Change the patterns ‘This can be in a notepad you keep handy, or even on your notes on your phone. ‘For a week, when you identify yourself having negative thoughts write them down,’ Claire suggests. Try this challenge: Each time you find yourself thinking a negative thought, try thinking of a positive take on it. Once you notice that you’re prone to automatic negative thoughts, what’s next? How can you tackle them? ‘If you do spot yourself thinking in this way, then it’s important to recognise that, and to detach yourself from those thoughts.’ ‘These types are all common in someone experiencing ANTs,’ Claire tells us. ’I always fail’, or ‘I fail at everything I do’ Over-generalisation: Seeing a negative event as a sign that everything is negative, i.e.Mind-reading: Making negative interpretations of what others may be thinking. For example, after a conversation with someone you only recall the one minor criticism and ignore the 16 good things they said. The mental filter: Picking out a single negative detail and focusing only on that, without taking into account any good things that might have happened.As they are a reflex, it’s sometimes difficult to notice that you have automatically spiralled into a negative thought.’Ĭlaire explains that three common types of automatic negative thoughts are: ‘The first thing to do when looking to combat these ANTs is to identify them. ‘Automatic negative thoughts are pattern led and usually learned behaviours over a period of time, with themes of fear and danger common,’ Claire Gask, the clinical lead at Southampton Wellbeing Centre for the Priory Group, tells .uk. They can quickly become a natural state of being, and regardless of whether they’re remotely based in reality, we can let them consume our lives and emotions, making us deeply unhappy.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |