Some thoughts don’t leave us alone, they come back again and again, like a song you can’t get out of your head. While the repeated melody may be annoying, it is unlikely to cause any problems; Especially if you are able to think about other things.
However, the persistent thought is something different… “It causes distress; “You can’t take your attention away from it, and it interferes with your daily life,” according to Dr. Stephanie Collier, a psychiatrist at Harvard-affiliated McLean Hospital.
Causes of blocked thoughts
It is normal for people to have blocked thoughts from time to time. If this happens frequently, it could be caused by stress or an underlying medical condition, such as the following:
– Generalized anxiety disorder: People with generalized anxiety disorder, a condition characterized by excessive worry, may have persistent thoughts about many things, such as anxiety about an upcoming event, finances, or thoughts of taking a bus or plane in the future.
Depression: When you are depressed, a condition that involves feeling extremely sad or hopeless, you tend to feel bad about yourself. You may have persistent thoughts that you have failed at something or that no one loves or cares about you.
– Obsessive-compulsive disorder: Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is characterized by obsessions (disturbing intrusive thoughts) or compulsive behaviors (pressure to perform repetitive behaviors, such as washing your hands).
The persistent thought in classic OCD is about germs and whether you have touched something contaminated and need to wash your hands.
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD): This is a group of symptoms that can occur after witnessing or being exposed to a traumatic event, such as exposure to scenes of violence or loss of life. A symptom of PTSD is a blocked thought that recalls the traumatic scene.
Spending a lot of time on persistent thoughts leads to believing them
Blocked thoughts can hurt us
Blocked thoughts can have many negative effects; It makes it difficult to concentrate, can spread feelings of shame and fear, and can destroy self-confidence. “After you spend a lot of time on it, you start to believe those thoughts,” says Dr. Collier.
Over time, blocked thoughts can lead to social isolation. “Some people don’t want to leave home anymore,” Dr. Collier said, “they may feel convinced that no one loves them.” “Or they may not want to be exposed to something they fear, like germs.”
Remove blocked thoughts
When you try to push away a stuck thought, it seems to stick even harder; This is because you end up paying more attention to it.
Instead, try one of the following methods:
– Examination of evidence: How true is this idea? Write down the evidence to support this, then write down anything that contradicts it. “If your brain says you’re a failure, think about the ways you’ve succeeded,” says Dr. Collier. “Maybe you’re a good cook, or a really devoted parent… so resist those thoughts.”
– distract: It’s hard to focus on a stuck thought when you’re in the middle of a task. To move away from this thinking, Dr. Collier suggests changing your scenery, such as taking a walk or engaging in an activity that interests you and keeps you busy.
– Schedule multiple tasks: If you have a lot of free time during the day, your brain will have more time to focus on persistent thoughts. Stay busy.
Reduce worry time: Dr. Collier says: “People often worry all day; Because they don’t want to forget things. Then pick a time, like 5am, when you can worry about whatever you want for 30 minutes. “And when anxiety comes up early, he reminds yourself that you’ll deal with it later in the day.”
– Talk to a family member or friend: sharing your thoughts helps give you a better perspective and helps fight isolation and loneliness.
ask for help
It’s difficult to deal with blocked thoughts on your own, especially if you have a mental health problem you’re unaware of. So don’t carry the burden alone.
If you have been having persistent thoughts for a few weeks, talk to your primary care doctor or make an appointment with a therapist for an evaluation.
– Cognitive behavioral therapy: This treatment may be necessary. This is a general approach that helps you identify stuck thoughts and redirect them in less negative and more manageable ways.
– Targeted therapies: Other treatments are tailored to specific conditions, such as treatment for obsessive-compulsive disorder, which gradually exposes you to the things you fear, or treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder, which aims to change the way you remember a traumatic experience is stored in the brain. Medication may also be needed to control blocked thoughts.
“With time and practice, you can learn to live with and overcome blocked thoughts,” says Dr. Collier. Do not give up.
* Harvard Health Letter – Tribune Media Services
2024-01-03 11:53:44
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