What are Negative Thoughts?
Negative thoughts plague most of us. They can be intrusive, pesky, and bothersome. It is important to recognize them so that you can cope and reality check them. This article will explore 5 types of negative thoughts.
What are Negative Thoughts?
Negative thoughts can be automatic. We often refer to them as Automatic Negative Thoughts (ANTs). Our experiences or messages from other people influence our negative thoughts. They can be fleeting or long lasting. Negative thoughts cause feelings of shame and guilt, leading to a repetitious cycle.
5 Types of Negative Thoughts
There are five different negative thoughts one can experience. They can happen separately, all together, or building on each other. Negative thoughts are from the voice of our critic. Negative beliefs influence them and create thought patterns.
1. Good vs Bad
This is where you usually describe things, such as food, emotions, or yourself. We put them in categories of good or bad. Often things that are incorrectly categorized. Good vs bad type is critical of the choices made. It is a type that is rooted in shame.
The best thing is to look at things as either healthy or positive. Good vs bad has a built-in shame, which makes it difficult to overcome. When we look at things like food being unhealthy vs healthy, we can focus on what fuels our bodies verses shame about what we are eating.
2. Excuses
We all make excuses. I mean, I remember a childhood joke about how they are like armpits and that we all have them. When changing our lifestyles, our brain likes to trick us. Our mindset is the hardest part of that change because of the excuses we tell ourselves about how we can’t succeed. This type leads to guilt and regret.
Fighting through our excuses can be difficult when we are our worst critic. Tell yourself to be stronger than your excuse. Failure is better than never trying. Trying shows us how amazing we are and all that we can accomplish.
3. Shoulding
A lot of us therapists tell our clients to stop shoulding all over themselves. Shoulds increase feelings of guilt, shame, and anger. It creates a vicious cycle.
Take ownership. Shoulding just makes a mess and a lack of control. Ownership and responsibility for your choices give you control over them.
4. Not As Good As
Judgements aren’t just about ourselves. Often our judgements come from comparing ourselves to other people. Keeping up with the Joneses and the grass is green on the other side are common phrases. These phrases lead to this negative thought type. You blame yourself for not having what others have.
Gratitude is your greatest tool against self-judgements. It lets you focus on what you have rather than comparing yourself to others. You can recognize that everyone is different, but thankful for what you have accomplished.
5. Give Up
We beat ourselves up until we convince ourselves to give up. It can be dangerous for someone. We are our own worst critic, beating ourselves up worse than anyone else could ever do. This type impacts other types as well.
To overcome, find your motivation or why. Remind yourself what is important and the goals you have made. Take it step by step or day by day and give yourself grace.
Fighting Negative Thoughts
If these simple suggestions don’t help combat negative thoughts, stay tuned for next week’s blog post on tips to overcome. You can get a free consultation if you need it. Remember, you are stronger than you know.
Disclaimer: This is in no way a replacement for a therapeutic relationship or substance abuse/mental health services. This is for educational purposes only and should be in used only in conjunction in working with a licensed mental health professional. Reading this blog or responding to it does not constitute a provider-patient relationship. If you are looking for a local mental health professional feel free to use the contact tab to request an appointment or search Mental Health Match, Therapy Den, or Psychology Today for local therapists in your area. If this is a mental health or substance abuse emergency and you need immediate assistance, please call 911, call 988, go to your local ER, visit your local detox center, or call 211 if you are in Oklahoma.