“Is negative thinking a disease?”

Question

Psychiatrist Questions Mental Health

“Is negative thinking a disease?”

I am slowly turning into a very negative person and I seem to have negative thoughts running on my mind for almost no reason. Am I suffering from a disease or is it just a phase? I am worried, can this push me towards depression? Please advice.

10 Answers

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**Dr. Rose Gomez** Psychiatrist Chicago, Il · Accepted Answer

Dr. Rose Gomez Psychiatrist Chicago, Il

You should talk with a mental health professional.

**Dr. Edward M. Paul** Psychiatrist New York, New York · Accepted Answer

Dr. Edward M. Paul Psychiatrist New York, New York

It may be psychological. Best dealt with by CBT and meditation, but it could be real depression, so a psychiatric consultation makes sense.

**Dr. Madiha Ghayas** Psychiatrist Houston, TX · Accepted Answer

Dr. Madiha Ghayas Psychiatrist Houston, TX

Too much negative thinking is not normal. This can be a sign of depression as well. Therapy can prove helpful in this scenario as it can help you learn to think differently.

**Laeeq Tahir** Psychiatrist Moncton, NB · Accepted Answer

Laeeq Tahir Psychiatrist Moncton, NB

Negative thinking is a symptom of a number of mental illnesses, not a disease itself. Depression and anxiety disorders are among those illnesses. To be on the cautious side, you should be thoroughly evaluated by a psychiatrist to rule out any depressive or anxiety related illness.

**Robert James Spensley** Psychiatrist Fair Oaks, California · Accepted Answer

Robert James Spensley Psychiatrist Fair Oaks, California

Negative thinking is a symptom of depression. It would be in your best interest to have an evaluation by your primary care MD to evaluate other symptoms of depression.

**Dr. Babu R. Vadlamudi** Psychiatrist Livonia, MI · Accepted Answer

Dr. Babu R. Vadlamudi Psychiatrist Livonia, MI

You may need a psychiatric evaluation and supportive psychotherapy.

**Dr. Ruchira S. Densert** Psychiatrist San Diego, California · Accepted Answer

If you are typically an optimistic or positive thinker and recently have noted changes with your thinking towards negative thoughts, then I recommend getting an evaluation to rule out depression. You can start with your primary care provider or see a therapist to assess your current life circumstances, lifestyle, etc., and then seek appropriate treatment. Negative thinking is one of the signs of depression and if left unaddressed can progress to depression and worsen. If you are having thoughts of suicide/self harm, harm towards others with your negative thinking, I recommend going to your nearest emergency room immediately for help.

**Jan Fawcett** Psychiatrist · Accepted Answer

It has to show its efficacy. Negative thinking itself is not a disease, but it can lead to a disease, most commonly depression. Cognitive Therapy (CT) was conceived of with this dynamic in mind. Namely, the idea that CT challenged the negative of an individual with depression. Whether negative thinking leads an individual to depression depends on many factors. I like to think of depression as a result of many causes, equifinality meaning many different mechanisms leading to the same end. Negative thinking is not healthy, and people who have it should seek out CT. It is not always an illness, but may lead to depression, which is a disease. Depression is characterized by depressed mood, anhedonia, low energy, decreased appetite, decreased ability to sleep, suicidal ideas, and increased risk of suicide.

Dr. Fawcett

**Lewis A. Van Osdel** Psychiatrist Portland, Oregon · Accepted Answer

Lewis A. Van Osdel Psychiatrist Portland, Oregon

I would need more information to make a proper diagnosis. However, if your symptoms are more than a nuisance and actually interfere with your health or functioning, then you probably have one of the anxiety disorders as an accepted, official diagnostic criteria. However, you would have to have more symptoms than just negative thinking.

**Dr. Janice E. Cohen** Psychiatrist San Francisco, CA · Accepted Answer

No, at most one might call it a symptom, one which varies in type, intensity, frequency and duration for each individual and which all people experience in some manner throughout their lives. I like "The Ten Forms of Twisted Thinking" List on pages 8-11 in The Feeling Good Handbook, Revised, by David D. Burns, M.D. copyright 1990, 1999. Severe, persistent, and/or disabling negative thinking is associated with many different "illnesses." It is also associated with both developmental and acute trauma (e.g., personal loss of person(s), home, environmental, community, health or life affecting self and/or others. I have an article on my website to help understand the different types of psychotherapy and what approach might help you best in identifying a possible trigger for this change in your thinking and how to best address it.