“What causes negative thoughts in a person?”
There are times when I start thinking in a negative manner for no reason at all. I suddenly turn gloomy and nothing positive seems to come in my mind. Is it only a phase or does it require some kind of treatment?
8 Answers
A lot of things can influence one's thinking pattern: what you eat, who surrounds you, your environment, stress factors can trigger negative thinking. Restoring balance in your body and mind can help you be less affected by your thoughts and you will experience less negative thinking. If you want to seek help for it, I would be happy to help you.
Yasmine Saad, Ph.D.
Yasmine Saad, Ph.D.
It is better to get this under control while in its acute phase - yes, seek out a therapist who specializes in CBT.
You might find it useful to keep a little diary around the times your mood turns gloomy. Is there some repetitive trigger like physical pain? Like loneliness? Like anger or resentment? Is it a hormonally related mood swing? Connected with drinking alcohol or taking recreational drugs?
If these moods are mild and remit quickly, no, treatment isn’t necessary. If they worsen and edge towards depression, do seek some help. Life should have more sunny days than stormy ones!
Peace,
Marian
If these moods are mild and remit quickly, no, treatment isn’t necessary. If they worsen and edge towards depression, do seek some help. Life should have more sunny days than stormy ones!
Peace,
Marian
Quite a few things can cause negative thoughts:
Stress, lack of empathy or emotional closeness in your life, dissatisfaction with work or an important relationship, or not enough fun and laughter in your life.
Stress, lack of empathy or emotional closeness in your life, dissatisfaction with work or an important relationship, or not enough fun and laughter in your life.
If you can catch it, you can change it. We choose our thoughts when we pay attention. You see how 'negative' thoughts affect our mood. Likewise, positive thoughts also affect our mood. It is a clinical problem when it interferes with your life (relationships, work, sleep, etc.)
If this is something new for you, then maybe something is bothering you without you knowing what it is. If you were always negative at times, then maybe you need to talk or see a therapist to understand more about your thoughts. I will tell you this, we all have times of gloomy and depressing times and negative thoughts, but we should snap out of it quickly, like minutes or hours and no longer. Just try to tell yourself, I need to think more positive and try to help yourself, if you want.
Yes, look for a psychologist who practices cognitive behavioral therapy which focuses on changing thoughts. Read Dr. Burns book, Feeling Good.
It depends on the severity and frequency of these negative phases. Are these periods sustained and frequent, or episodic and rare? If it happens continuously or is increasing in frequency it might suggest depression. If your negative thoughts increase in intensity, become scary, paranoid or suicidal, it is also problematic. But if you get in periodic funks that abate and don't go too deep I wouldn't be concerned. Track these patterns and if you find you can't willfully turn your thoughts around, or they happen more frequently or intensely, you are probably depressed and should see a therapist.
