How to Stop Negative Thoughts Related to Trauma
Experiencing a traumatic event can leave you with feelings of fear, physical reactions to triggers, and emotional numbness. And it is no secret that having to carry around the heavy feelings and emotions related to the trauma can be overwhelming.
Life, however, doesn’t stop. And facing daily tasks and responsibilities as if everything is great when it isn’t can be tough. The result? Negativity at every turn.
Let’s take a closer look at why this happens and how to stop negative thoughts related to trauma.
Why Does Trauma Lead to Negative Thoughts?
A person who is overburdened with negative thoughts may not have always been that way. Many times happy-go-lucky, optimistic people can be the bearer of negative thoughts after experiencing trauma.
Why does this happen? Where does this negativity come from?
Trauma brings emotions that aren’t experienced by everyone all the time. Feelings of fear and anxiety. Flashbacks and nightmares may occur. And, physical responses like a rapid heart rate, shortness of breath, sweating, and so forth may also occur either due to a trigger or seemingly out of nowhere.
All of a sudden, you are facing life with a bag full of unwanted emotions that are causing you mental and physical discomfort. What do you do with them? How do you stop negative thoughts?
Not knowing what to do can lead to frustration and gloom. Suddenly a once sunny, happy life seems depressing and full of doom.
If left alone, these negative thoughts will not just disappear on their own. Rather, you have to work through them in order to overcome them.
What Are Negative Thought Patterns?
Negative thought patterns can be different for everyone. Below are a few that are commonly found among those who have suffered through something traumatic. See if you recognize any.
Catastrophizing
This is a pattern of thoughts that focuses on all the things that could go wrong— worrying about the worst-case scenario.
Making Assumptions
This is when you assume that others are thinking something negative about you when there is no proof that they are.
Emotional Reasoning
Using your emotions to make decisions, rather than thinking clearly or logically.
Overestimating Risks
Making a situation more risky than it actually is due to higher levels of anxiety and negative thoughts.
Self-blame
Blaming yourself for things that happen – even when they are things outside of your control.
Disregarding Important Situations
Minimizing important details of a situation or ignoring them altogether.
Focusing on One Situation
Finding yourself focusing on one bad decision or one situation of defeat and comparing the potential outcome of future events to it.
Pay Attention to Your Negative Thoughts
In order to stop negative thoughts and make positive changes within your life, you have to be able to recognize when they appear. Keep in mind that they can come in the form of thoughts or they can appear as negative self-talk.
Negative self-talk is the dialogue that goes on in your head. It is the words you say to yourself at any given time throughout the day, whether you are faced with a task, looking in the mirror, looking back on your day, etc. When these thoughts you have are negative, they can make you feel awful.
What are you saying to yourself? Your inner dialogue has an impact on:
- Your overall mood
- How you respond to a challenging situation
- How well do you relate to those around you
- Whether or not you overcome your experience with trauma
Negative thoughts can lead to frustration, anger, depression, and fear. They have to go.
How to Stop Negative Thoughts
Want to know how to stop negative thoughts? Once you recognize them —it is time to pack them up and toss them out. Have you ever asked yourself whether or not what you are thinking is true? Have you ever looked close enough to see if there is any proof that the negative thought is real? Or is it just a negative thought that is meant to keep you on the sidelines?
To stop negative thoughts, you have to develop rebuttals for the negative arguments in your head. For instance, if you are constantly blaming yourself for the trauma, begin to tell yourself that you didn’t deserve it. If you think of yourself as worthless, tell yourself that you are good and worthy of all good things.
You are the only one who can change the narrative of your self-talk in order to stop negative thoughts. Working with a skilled therapist is a great way to make this happen and ensure that the positivity begins to take hold.
Want a few more examples?
- Change I am weak to I am strong.
- Change I have no control over my anger to I can be angry, but I am still in control.
- Change My life is doomed to I can have a bad day, but it will get better.
- Change I am not enough to I am worthy and have a purpose.
As you begin making these changes, know that nothing is going to change overnight. Negative thoughts can have quite a grip on you so getting rid of them is possible but it is not instantaneous. You will need to continue to practice.
Tips to Stop Negative Thought Patterns
Here are a few tips that can help you to further change your negative thought patterns and replace them with something positive.
- Tell yourself to stop when the negative emotions become too loud.
- Keep a gratitude journal.
- Place positive affirmations in areas around your home, work, car, etc., or wherever you spend your time. The more you see and read them, the greater chance you will think of them when you need to.
- Eat healthy and get regular exercise.
- Journal all of your negative thoughts to get them out.
- Practice mindful meditation.
And, of course, work with a mental health professional.
Stop Negative Thoughts at Amend Treatment
Have you been through something traumatic? Are you ready to overcome it — and get rid of your negative thoughts once and for all? Amend Treatment is here for you.
Contact us today.