Looking at your post and I'm thinking,I couldn't have said it better myself. I know that'thats exactly whats causing my anxiety and I haven't mastered my thoughts yet but I am always trying.I was just getting ready to study about that very thing in The anxiety phobia workbook by Edmund J. Bourne.Overcoming negative self talk is one of the chapters! I can read it all I want ,but implementing what it say's to do takes a lot of practice. I think thats what it boils down to ,is practice.It's just not easy and takes time and if you're like me,it doesn't make me happy to know it's going to be hard work but that the way it is I think! I'm looking forward to reading the replies you get to your post and I'm going to read on this tonight and practice.good luckO,Garrett

Thanks Garrett...I'm going to be doing some research into this as well. I guess we want immediate results to something that took years to become deeply ingrained in our habitual thought patterns. I think it's difficult for me too..to realize that this is something that I'm going to have to practice. Something that may come as natural as breathing to many others is going to be a real feat for me. But I may as well go ahead and get my feet set and start doing something to fix this problem and for real this time. I've dabbled before .... but my dabbling days have got to be over...I've got to get serious....I've got to find a way that no matter what is going on around me I can find this peaceful place within myself that lets me know it's all going to be ok. I think I may have that book you're talking about..I'll check and see...and if so..go straight to that chapter....thanks again.

When you find out, let me know!! LOL

I battle with negative thoughts, things that have happened in the past that were not good. I almost relive them to a point of depression.

When my mind gets hooked on something, I don't let go, especially when idle, it is very difficult to live this way.

For me it has helped to know that anxiety is normal - not pleasant - but a normal emotion. You get in trouble with it when you become afraid of the symptoms it gives you. If you can accept it and try to understand why you are anxious, it lessens. Also positive, compassionate self talk is important. I've always tended to be impatient and very hard on myself - and what I said was often negative. The exercise of writing down your negative thoughts throughout the day and then writing positive ones for each at night is a good one for this. The positive ones need to be realistic and not go overboard. Example: " I can't believe I have so much trouble just making a trip to the store. Just doing that I had so much anxiety I had to run home. What the hell is wrong with me? Can't I do anything right?" The response at night might be: " It is hard for me to go out sometime because of my anxiety, but I did try. Next time I'll try to talk to myself and calm myself better so I can stay longer and enjoy it more. But I did go! Nothing's wrong with me except anxiety. It's very hard to deal with at times, but I am going to find a way eventually."

Here is my outlook about bad thoughts....although you can't control them (they are a part of the anxiety response), you CAN control how you are going to react to them.

So the key is to NOT react to them. You say/think "Oh, there is that thought again. So what. It is just a thought and can't hurt me or anyone else". Choose to accept that you are having irrational and bad thoughts and that is due to the extra adrenaline and tired nerves, nothing more. You are not a bad or evil person, just having some frayed nerves. The thoughts pass when you stop paying attention to them or focusing on them in a negative way (like OMG! I can't think that! What is wrong with me? Am I losing my mind or going crazy?)

I hope that makes sense! I stop trying so hard to control them and I have noticed that they stop happening when I am not thinking about them anymore.

I also do a lot of positive affirmation and self talk and I think that has buffered the negative thoughts a lot as well.

Thanks for the replies...I do know that I am a control freak...I think that makes it hard for me to just accept and roll with it. Helpful stuff y'all ..thanks again. =)

My nursing instructor (psych nursing) said, "her doctor instructed her to clap her hands together ((kind of hard)) and say, "STOP IT!" And start thinking about something peaceful, happy. etc. When she began ruminating on bad thoughts.

I guess this would not work in public but if you do it at home it may start training your brain to stop thinking negative things.... (I guess you could think, "stop it!" in public places if needed.) I have this problem too...it is tough to deal with. Also I think that meditation/yoga may help one get a little more control of the mind and breathing.

For me:
Knowing and understand about the thought patterns, switching my diet and habits to have MUCH LESS caffeine and sugar, MUCH MORE water, fruits and healthier choices, along facing the trigger areas head on to practice these challenges in order to improve little by little. CBT can help teach you these practices of when are your triggers, intrusive thoughts occurring etc etc.

We will always have anxiety, but getting control of it is the key. Avoidance is always the easy way out. Drugs as well...Nothing gets done either way.

I wish you the best!

TJ

It is almost like you have to deflect the thoughts before they start. Selective distraction is a tool from CBT.

Slingshot, I relive bad experiences too. Its not good but I have a hard time turning my thoughts off. I am using the meditation that my therapist is teaching me. Never realized that I really don't know how to relax. I do not like to be alone in my thoughts. That is why I stay busy and most of the time have my earphones in my ears listening to talk radio. That helps but is not a fix.

Thank y'all for the suggestions. I have benefited from them too.

If you can work backwards and find your beliefs the thoughts will follow. Also find what you worry about and you can see the thoughts. Problem with the 60,000 or so thoughts our brain processes a day is that most are so fast that we cant grasp them or they are just below our conscious awareness. Find a belief and you have a root.......find a worry and it will point to a belief.

It is not an easy situation!
By acknowledging that there are problems is half the battle! The other half is now trying to deal with the problems. Not ignoring them but trying to understand them. Not denying but again trying to understand and deal with the problem--whether it is deep breathing, knowing that the feelings of anxiety are not going to kill you but that for a few moments. or sometimes longer, the feelings are uncomfortable but that you will make it through! also knowing that there are people who care really helps a lot! Hang in there! You can do it!