Automatic Negative Thinking

Do you get caught in the negative thinking loop?

Maybe it feels like you're on the "hamster wheel", just going over and over in your head an issue. -- This represents: Anxiety

Often we can be found scanning our own brain/ memories for things to worry about or rehash when nothing in our present is particularly troubling. Why would anyone look for trouble, in this manner?

In part, we are creatures of habit. Many have in essence become conditioned to being in a state of "worry", it has for some, become their NORMAL. When current circumstances are free from stress the scanning, or thinking of previous events or interactions that caused us to feel unsettled are searched for so one's normal state of worry can be re-established. Once re-established there is to some degree a level of satisfaction achieved.

What is normal is familiar and what is familiar is comfortable. Please note, the word "healthy" is not included in the previous sentence, it is not an accidental omission.

Consider this; An individual is raised in a negative, unstable and abusive environment. As this individual grows and matures they have become accostumed to living life in an environment that is unstable, unpredictable, negative and probably permeates with a sense of personal danger to some degree. This is their normal. All of this also may translate into internal states of anxiety and stress, which is also their normal.

Negative Thinking is just one way that individuals learn to maintain their internal state of anxiety and stress - a familiar state of being. And remember familiar often translates to comfortable.

You may be saying, "Anxiety and stress is NOT comfortable!" and you would be correct, to a point. Comfortable has different meanings, here I am referring to comfort in terms of an unhealthy normal. That is why changing these bad habits can be very difficult.

I can help you to make these changes and I encourage you to get in touch if you are in the Ventura County, CA area.