It is natural to have negative thoughts racing through your mind at a certain point about certain situations you may have encountered, but it is not normal to allow negative thoughts to control your mind and thought pattern. It is also believed that if you think positively, positive things will happen to you. Have you also realized how much peace of mind you enjoy whenever you think positively about all that concerns you, no matter the challenges you may be facing at that point in time?
Negative thinking has many different causes. Intrusive negative thoughts can be a symptom of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) or generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). Negative thinking is also a symptom of depression. Fortunately, there are effective methods that can be adopted to help you move past negative thoughts to a more positive mindset.
Here are five ways to help you handle every negative thought.
- Keep Busy.
Getting your mind and hands occupied by doing tasks such as sewing, cooking, gardening, knitting, painting, writing, drawing, cleaning and sorting helps keep your mind off negative thoughts.
- Avoid Triggers.
Minimizing contact with negative people and avoiding people that remind you of your painful and dreadful past can help keep you sane and positive.
- Be conscious of your thoughts.
As soon as you find yourself thinking a negative thought, try to stop yourself from thinking that thought. Make it a conscious effort to remain positive as much as possible in all your endeavours. Also, desist from having conversations with pessimistic people, as staying in their company contributes to your negative thought pattern.
- Get Rest.
Lack of sleep greatly affects your mood, causing you to feel anxious, irritable, and angry. Try as much as possible to keep up with a regular sleep pattern, which contributes immensely to you having a good night’s rest and waking up feeling refreshed.
- Listen to music
Listening to your favourite music for 25 minutes a day can bring about a great mood change and have a positive effect on your health and day.
Practising the above tips when you usually have negative thoughts racing through your mind would go a long way to reduce the negativity in your thoughts. The less you respond to negativity, the more peaceful your life becomes.
If you or a loved one is struggling with mental health issues, do not hesitate to contact us today for counselling. We are readily available to help.
