Hi there,
Thank you for continuing to be a part of the Health Storylines community. If you are working to manage your mental health, you may have experienced negative thought patterns at some point on your journey. We wanted to talk to you about negative thought patterns and what it means to break the cycle.
What are negative thought patterns?
Negative thought patterns can also be referred to as cognitive distortions, and can manifest as incorrect assumptions, unrealistic self-criticisms, or even the denial of reality.
Though this may sound serious, and it can be in some situations, they are thought patterns that are very common among individuals who struggle with both anxiety and depression. It is essential to be able to recognize them when they happen.
What can you do to ‘break the cycle’?
If you begin to find yourself overwhelmed by negative thoughts, try to take some time to reflect when you find yourself feeling calmer. Try to challenge your thoughts, this can be difficult and takes some practise, but eventually it will help you learn how to take control of these thought patterns. The Positive Thoughts Diary was made to help you practice this skill and guide you through the process. Add it to your roster of tools by clicking the ‘+’ sign at the bottom of your homepage in your Health Storylines app.
