At least once in all our lives, we have heard people tell us or others to “think positive”. Most of us find this advice to be mostly annoying rather than being helpful, because let’s face it, we are all humans living in an unpredictable World. More often than not, our dreams are quashed due to societal pressure or financial troubles. How, then, is it possible for someone to stay positive? However, Researchers at the University of Cambridge have recently found that suppression of negative thoughts helps improve mental health might actually hold truth. The people who were trained to suppress negative thoughts during training all reported that they felt much better over the course of the study. Even people with post traumatic stress disorders reported that the techniques of suppression provided to them had helped them overcome new fears as well. Visit a West Palm Beach Therapist today to talk about suppression techniques used in this study.
So how does this technique work? According to the researchers, reducing the amount of time spent contemplating negative thoughts and scenarios helps in an overall decline of anxiety and depression. Repeatedly thinking about a negative emotion while doing nothing to bring any change whatsoever, is what causes outbursts of helplessness. But, when we take action and restrain ourselves from going deep down the rabbit hole, we can save ourselves from the paralyzing cycle of our habitual scepticism.
In case you are interested to try out this technique, following are a few useful pointers –
- Identifying Triggers – Once you figure out the triggers that lead you towards the negativity spiral, you can be more attentive the next time you face a trigger. If possible, you could also work on avoiding the trigger altogether.
- Questioning Negative Thoughts – Whenever you notice a negative thought creeping up, challenge it by trying to find evidence that supports it. If there is no proof to support said thought, it s most probably an irrational and / or exaggerated thought which you can then replace with a more practical thought.
- Focusing on the Present – Distracting yourself from the negative thought cycle is also an effective way to stay positive. Try to look at the thought passing you by without getting caught up in it or passing judgement. Bring your attention back to whatever it is you were doing and start new hobbies to keep yourself busy and cheerful.
Remember that negative thoughts are a normal part of being human, but how you deal with them is what matters. Instead of suppressing them, try to understand and manage them in a healthy way to promote better mental well – being. However, as is the case with almost everything out there, suppression is not a one – size – fits – all kind of deal. In some cases, it might even worsen the symptoms, making recovery all the more difficult. It is thus essential to consult a professional Mental Health Therapist in Palm Beach to find a personalized treatment plan.