@creative_writer
Yes, I doubt any of us ignore those thoughts, especially when they've been a part of us for so long, or are just so strong that they take over.
I think by quieting them, I mean to accept they'll probably always be there but find a way to accept the there, but know what they are and be able to listen and act on more positive and/or helpful thoughts.
I agree that pushing them away just caused them to resurface later but its like you said, we need to sit with them, or quiet them enough so that we are not consumed by them, because we can replace them with other thoughts.
As far as I know, not that ive ever been tested, I only have issues with depression and anxiety. The thoughts that they gave me felt uncontrollable for all of my life until only a few years ago. I made decisions growing up that I knew were wrong or just giving in to those thoughts, but I could never go with the choice that I knew would probably help me... the fear and anxiety was just far too strong. It took me more than 40 years to even start to learn to control those fears and those thoughts of not being good enough and all the rest that held me back.
Theyre still there, and they still give me pause, but slowly i am learning to control them.... finally! The past 6 months has seen more progress than the 53 years that came before.
As impossible as it feels, they can be controlled. Maybe not ever completely, but enough to start to feel its a fair fight now, and hopefully, some time, a winning fight.
The trauma and mental illness inside us will always be a part of us, but at some stage we have to start to try to weaken its control.
I'm still very much trying to figure this out myself and I still doubt I ever will. But I do feel like I've made some good progress this year. Maybe I have, maybe it's all about to fall in a heap and Ill be back where I was. I still really have no idea, but I hope its the former. I hope you can find your path through as well and find some peace with enough of this to be in a better space mentally.