Automatic thought are brief, quiet, repetitive messages told to oneself that appear in a particular situation. These thoughts are so deeply rooted and are so frequent that we hardly realise their presence within us. They may be positive or negative and they appear suddenly, with neither reflection nor analysis. They exert a very powerful influence.
Automatic thoughts are especially bad for pessimists. For them, thoughts appear in a negative and absolute manner: This will last forever. There is no solution to this kind of problem, this is sure to break, 'All the blame is mine Aline's, it's too late.
How do automatic thoughts remain for so many years? Their constant presence becomes last of our daily thoughts and they stay with us unconsciously. For this reason, they tend to be difficult to remove, but it is possible to defeat them.
Just becoming conscious of these thoughts and their effects is a big step towards modifying or eliminating and substituting them with more edifying and positive thoughts.
Catch Your Automatic Thoughts
It may sound difficult it identify your automatic thinking, as it often remains in hiding. However, it is possible to recognise these thoughts if you carefully observe the mental process.
An effective way to identify them is to stop your activity and ask these question: What has gone through my brain in the last 15 minutes? What images and memories have I stored?
Another way to find those automatic thoughts is to focus on your emotionally intense moments. Meeting up with your pals, passing by someone you hate, discussing with your superior about a raise in salary, visiting someone you have issues with. Remain attentive to what goes through your mind automatically and capture those thoughts.
Analyse Them
At times, these thoughts could be realistic and useful. But usually they are almost always exaggerated and will adversely affect your behaviour. Askyourself:'Is it realistic ti think that I always fail? ''Does he really hate me? 'Does it make sense to remain fearful throughout this situation? ' Be fair and honest with your assessment. Consult with someone you trust or go to the psychologist. Such persons can help you discern and be objective. In your analysis, remember the following:
- Do not believe everything that goes through your head
- Statements such as 'never''always ' 'everybody's 'nobody's go along well with false or exaggerated thoughts.
- Thoughts of depressive people tend to be self demanding, negative towards the environment and hopeless towards the future.
Many automatic thoughts are about oneself. - Thoughts of anxious people tend to be apprehensive, dangerous and threatening.
Design Your Thought
Automatic thoughts strongly affect our beliefs and behaviour. If you want to have a handle on your own emotions, you must choose the thoughts you wish to engage in. Make list of thought and study them, and also set aside all negative km exchange of positive thought.
Follow and upvote @polaleye50
This will make a very good article for Psychology Today. Indeed automatic thoughts are a mood-killer. They absorb the positive energy and replace it with harmful recurring thoughts.
Its also known as Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD). The obsession is the repetitive thoughts which cannot easily be elimanted by the individual while the Compulsion is the repetitive action.
Generally, its a hall-mark of anxiety, panic, despair, depression etc. So to get a solution, one must first of all identify the root-cause and amend it from there.
Visiting a psychologist also comes in handy!
This your quote about sums it up...
Thanks for sharing!
@nairadaddy you made a good points. Thanks for your contribution
This is an incredibly curated post, have you read The Power of Now? If not I have a good book recommendation to you haha
Thanks
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