Stress Center Peer Support

Does anyone else find it sometimes difficult to believe the positive side of things? Like, when you catch a negative thought(s), and you try to replace it with something positive...not even going to extremes...does anyone find that you just feel like you're just saying this stuff that isn't really true? That you're "just trying to make yourself feel better?" Or, yeah, you're saying/thinking the 'positive' stuff, but you don't really feel it. Or even feel that it's the truth. Can anyone relate?

missobsessive

You won't believe it at first, no one does who has anxiety or depression. Thats the point of repeating them over and over, so your subconsicous will begin to believe what your saying.
Its much easier to have a negative thought than a positive one, thats why we repetition is so important. As someone said, "fake it, til you make it" because positives have to become a daily habit.
Thats one reason I like journaling, because i can see how im thinking, and write down the negatives, and then come back and write a positive thought to override the negative.
I know how hard it is, But you can do it!!

Thanks Nelly . I know...I just need to stick with it. I've been repeating positive affirmations in my head, but I think I need to really make myself sit down and write them out. That might help me to "see" it all better.

I agree with Nelly completely. You really do have to repeat it over and over again. There was one thing that i learn from David D Burns's books that i found really helpful. Instead of trying to create a positive to replace the negative, try to replace the irrational with the rational. Ask questions like what is the likely hood of X ever happening? Has it happened before? Has it happened to other people before? Or yes you might screw up on such and such but in the whole scheme of things how important is it? Is it going to really make a diffrence in say a year? 10 years? 100 years?

Positive affirmations can be helpful but showing yourself the lie in an irrational thought will help you out more. If you feel that you are still struggling with this in a few weeks, I'd highly suggest you check out Dr.David D Burns's book (Feeling good).


Mike

Hmm thanks Mike. Those are some good thoughts about this, I don't think I really thought of it like that. That makes a lot of sense though. I'm definitely going to try it out. Thanks a lot.

I understand that. Sometimes I always feel like something bad is going to happen for me. it is hard to stay positive.

Your welcome and I never thought of that either until i read that book.

Have to have those good thoughts. eliminate th negative.....which is tough. How do you change a best friend of 25 years to stop being negative? GIVE HIM THE TAPES!!! Pass them around to all the people who stress or depress you....then you turned a negative into a positive!!! creamcheese

I really like that one Mike. Much of what I tell myself is not rational and has no bases, its just a fear. The 7 steps of the program has helped me greatly, and this just fits right along with it. Its our mind that can really get us depressed if we let it. Be rational, think on the present and enjoy the roses right in front of you. It is what it is.

Well put!