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How to challenge your negative thoughts

How to challenge your negative thoughts

Hi @Shaz51 @Emelia8 @Eve7 @rav3n @tyme and others reading along -

I have been diagnosed with BPD, cPTSD, depression, anxiety, eating disorder. I am also a survivor of childhood sexual abuse.

I saw my dr today and he has suggested that i try to 'challenge my thoughts'. I am at the moment on a huge downer with my depression - no motivation, no interest in much, can't be bothered, angry with myself etc etc etc and my negative thoughts are instant. Once these negative thoughts are with me I 'go with it' and it 'drags me into a spiral of negative self thoughts' (hope this makes sense!!)

my question is - how on earth do i challenge my negative thoughts?? That's not something i do myself because i get so absorbed by my own thoughts. It never occurs to me that i need to stop and challenge it.

If i am with my dr or psychiatrist and they point it out - then after a little while with them i can see it but don't believe it. (this is not making sense???)

i am struggling at the moment and don't know how to write this to you all

i get angry with my dr because he has no idea how hard it is to challenge those very strong negative thoughts

a lot of those thoughts have been ingrained in me since a child and a lot of them i believe to be true; the exact truth

377 replies

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In response to: How to challenge your negative thoughts

Re: How to challenge your negative thoughts

Hi @BlueBay

It must take a lot of courage to work through these memories of abuse. Having an experienced and competent counsellor must be such a valuable resource.

Can you give me your experience with the method that was employed, please? Does it help to recover memories? Or is it more means to.provide a sense of calm which engenders a sense of focus to enable you to express these traumatic thoughts in a controlled space?

I wish you the recovery that you seek.

Regards

J.

In response to: Re: How to challenge your negative thoughts

Re: How to challenge your negative thoughts

Hi friends

I am mentally exhausted. Can’t keep going.
@J_Oz @AuntGlow @tyme @Shaz51 @Appleblossom @Jynx

In response to: Re: How to challenge your negative thoughts

Re: How to challenge your negative thoughts

Hey @BlueBay, sorry to hear that your day has already gotten off to such a rough start 😔. When you're so exhausted, doing anything takes a lot more extra effort, so I want to acknowledge how hard you're working to stay connected with the compassion and support from the community here to help you through today.

If there is anything in particular we can do to support you today with these feelings, please do let us know 🌿.

In response to: Re: How to challenge your negative thoughts

Re: How to challenge your negative thoughts

hi @Coral_Swimmer

I'm home after seeing my psychiatrist this morning. Had a long session with her and it was helpful. I started a new med this morning and within an hour i was a complete mess. Glad i had an appt with my psychiatrist.

Trying to process my EMDR session from last friday is taking a toll. My head says one thing; my heart says another; my emotional mind says another. it's so confusing. stigma of mental health is horrible when you're so called 'friends' don't even check in on me when they know i have been in hospital. i just need to stop and rest.

thank you for your post.

In response to: Re: How to challenge your negative thoughts

Re: How to challenge your negative thoughts

I hope you could rest today @BlueBay It makes sense that your feelings are a bit all over the place after EMDR sesisons. Glad you had pdoc today.

I have been keeping quietly busy today. Yesterday. I must have really needed a rest as I did not get up til 12 noon, which really suprised me. I just didnt notice the time fly. While I was away I was up a lot earlier between 5 and 6, which is rare for me. It is what it is.

Hugs Bella

In response to: Re: How to challenge your negative thoughts

Re: How to challenge your negative thoughts

hugs back to you lovely @Appleblossom

i did have a restful afternoon. going to watch a bit of tennis tonight then an early night. Tomorrow i am seeing my little A and daughter, maybe a trip to the beach after our morning coffee!!! should be a nice day.

Can't wait for Thursday when i see my gastroenterologist to find out the results of my lactulose breath best. I have a suspicion that i do have SIBO. But we'll see on Thursday.

Hope you are well @Appleblossom the weather is warming up by the weekend. xxxx

In response to: Re: How to challenge your negative thoughts

Re: How to challenge your negative thoughts

Hey @BlueBay ,

Good to see you. Have you spent time with Little A while she's on holidays.

In response to: Re: How to challenge your negative thoughts

Re: How to challenge your negative thoughts


@BlueBay wrote:

Hi friends

I am mentally exhausted. Can’t keep going.
@J_Oz @AuntGlow @tyme @Shaz51 @Appleblossom @Jynx


I am so sorry to hear this @BlueBay. What is making you feel most exhausted today? 💛

In response to: Re: How to challenge your negative thoughts

Re: How to challenge your negative thoughts

Awww @BlueBay really hearing how challenging everything is for you right now 🥺

Really glad to hear your psych is taking you through this whole process gently and checking in with you along the way. Sounds promising that you are noticing shifts already.

Sending you some squishy hugs!

(っ˶ ˘ ᵕ˘)ˆᵕ ˆ˶ς)

In response to: Re: How to challenge your negative thoughts

Re: How to challenge your negative thoughts

hello my sister @BlueBay

how has your day been today xx

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