Coping with Negative Thoughts and Suppressed Emotions

Through weekly therapy with my psychologist, during conversations with her I learn various techniques that help me deal with the negative thoughts that float throughout the day.

I like to write down my feelings when I feel overwhelmed. It helps me understand myself better and to get those thoughts out of my head.

Y’all’re so helpful thank you so much! 💕

I guess I'm fortunate in that I really don't have a lot of negative thoughts and/or suppressed emotions. Despite being in chronic abdominal pain for 11 years (and counting), I'm surprised that I'm not more mucked up than I am. But I've had counseling and I'm on anti-psych meds, which helps a lot. I keep myself busy crocheting and doing word searches for fun. Positive thinking and keeping the mind occupied goes a long way to having a healthier outlook on life.

You all gave REALLY helpful answers.

I question if the thought is based in reality or not. If not, then I think of why it’s wrong. If the thought is based in reality then I think of ways I can improve myself. I also write the thoughts down and why they might be wrong or how I can change them at the end of the day.

I try to question why I think a thought like that, once I figure out what events have happened in my life to make me think that way. I try and think, how was this thought/feeling helpful back then? Or was it a thought someone else gave me? Was it an anxiety that was trying to keep me safe from something? Once I figure that out I thank the thought for trying its best and let it go.

I talk to it like another person. I name it like a person rather than trying to figure out which emotion it is because naming emotions is hard for me. It sounds stupid but the stupidity takes the power away from the thoughts. If my thoughts are telling me I’m annoying I can say “oh yeah Jeff? Guess what, you’re also annoying. How does that make you feel? Not great? That’s how you make me feel so maybe we shouldn’t be talking” I also journal stuff like that. It can help me process things I couldn’t have otherwise

I say them out loud. It makes it sound dumb. Like for example ‘I look homeless’ How does one look homeless? What does homelessness look like? I’m obviously not homeless? I’ve accomplished something, there’s a roof over my head. Then I journal, mainly on my phone. I talk in a voice memo or write something small to remind myself to revisit.