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What are good ways to stop negative trains of thought?

User Profile: willphire
willphire October 7th, 2018

Whenever I get anxious I tend to think about one slightly negative thing and then just keeping getting more and more negative. This can sometimes make me feel pessimistic or distant towards others. Are there any good ways you know to stop thinking negatively and get out of your head for a bit? My strategy is to try to find something safe I can distract myself with for a little while like a video game or book, but sometimes this can be hard to do when in a social situation. Any tips?

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User Profile: Booklover95
Booklover95 October 7th, 2018

@awilliams17

What about writing all the positive things you can think off?

Maybe a diary? Everyday you write good stuff that happened, or from life in general.

4 replies
User Profile: postaldogg
postaldogg October 7th, 2018

@Booklover95 Do you find writing things down to help?

1 reply
User Profile: Booklover95
Booklover95 October 7th, 2018

@postaldogg

Yeah I do.

Is like an exercise , so you learn how to find positive things you know?

In hard days can be hard to find them. So if you try hard and write it down, then you read it and the day doesn't seem that bad.

At least to me it helps.

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User Profile: willphire
willphire OP October 7th, 2018

@Booklover95 That

1 reply
User Profile: GregTsinon50
GregTsinon50 October 7th, 2018

I have the same problem and I trying to find a solution

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User Profile: ReadBooksDrinkTea
ReadBooksDrinkTea October 7th, 2018

@awilliams17 It can be tough to do that in a social situation and I'm sorry you're experiecing that! Are you into meditation at all? Sometimes I find focusing on my breath and the sensastions of breathing in and out can help. I also find that taking a moment to "check in" with my body and how it feels to be sitting/standing, the wind in my hair, the sounds around me, etc. can help.

3 replies
User Profile: willphire
willphire OP October 7th, 2018

@ReadBooksDrinkTea that

2 replies
User Profile: ReadBooksDrinkTea
ReadBooksDrinkTea October 7th, 2018

@awilliams17 I forgot to mention: there are apps you can download to your phone/tablet if that's something you may like. Some are relatively short so if you listen to them you can memroize them if you like to pull out when you feel anxious.

User Profile: postaldogg
postaldogg October 7th, 2018

@awilliams17 I have been meditating for abotu 3 months it's nice quiet time

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User Profile: loyalJar8221
loyalJar8221 October 9th, 2018

I found a good way. I am distracted when I look at my favorite match. adrenaline flows into the bloodstream. I feel incredible emotions when my team wins. it is very distracting from bad thoughts and calming down. Football fans will understand me. Current matches you can be found here. https://777score.nz/