Readers Respond: What Strategies Have Worked Best for You?

Responses: 57

Updated October 03, 2011

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Kick them off... Believe that you are Unique and none can replace you... whatever scary or negative things come to your mind... Have no fear.. Ask for HIS Blessing and his presence with you... Breathe and Breathe properly.. Drink Plenty of water ( to keep you cool)... Relax... And do what you do to your Best... I certainly agree that excercise or a hobby ( any game or a physical activity) would be of great help...
—Guest Ram.V

Replace negative thoughts w/ positive one's, learn how to relax, & make time to workout.... God WILL see u through! Keep hope alive!!!
—Guest lovelife

turn ur thoughts around breathe in deeply thru ur mouth n out ur nose close ur eyes to help relax
—Guest mindless

To keep from getting mad about the past or present. I ask the Lord to put his cool hand upon my forehead.Shortly after I seem to realize how much I have to be thankfull for.
—Guest paul odro

Whenever a depressive state happens with me I always write it down then think about it after I have somewhat calmed, writing helps you to decipher your thoughts, and don't think about what you're writing, just write then read a few minutes after you have had a few minutes to compose yourself.
—Guest Wolf Listener

When I felt negative, I use to go to the garden and look at the greenary which feel my mind with some kind of complacent feelings and I also go to my worshipping place and look at the Lord Buddha's statue
—Guest Jayaweera

many negative thoughts are associated with some type of addiction or abuse experiences. These are extremely difficult to control as the predisposition present can block a normal thought pattern and indeed, kill any path to happiness. Barring professional help, (which may be neccessary as well), begin by writing all your positive experience down that you can remember from your past. Refer to them often. Even if they are few. Then build on them as they occur. This is the tool of choice if you want to rid yourself of negative thoughts and emotional baggage. Tell yourself that you have many good experiences, and try to be aware of new ones when they happen. Remember to log each one and keep it handy for reference. Of course, this plan rely's on your desire to help yourself. Also, write a self assessment of your "good" qualities. If you do this long enough, you'll be surprised of the final effect. Remember, if your ears hear it often enough,you'll believe it.
—Guest mark

It's true that depression causes negative thoughts but the reverse is also true. Negative thoughts feed depression, makes it worse and prolongs it. Every negative thought you have causes your brain chemistry to keep you in a depression or sink you deeper. You can even feel it if you notice - a negative though feels like you are sinking deeper into a depressed mood. It can even feel overwhelming. Just realize this and knock those negative thoughts out of your mind ASAP. If you can repalce them with a positive thought even better, but if you can't just derail that negative thought the moment you realize its coming and remove it from your concious thought. Sometime you'll want to cling to it and mull it over but just realize that it WILL make you feel worse in the long run so just get rid of it from your mind as soon as you realize its coming.
—Guest Rich

My neg. thoughts are usually resentment (the past) or fear (the future). By bringing my attention to the present, the task at hand, weather communicating or physically doing something to be present will take me out of the negative. The problem for me has been to be aware of my thoughts. By being mindful and catching myself when neg. I've found this happening less and less. Also by forgiving others and asking forgiveness I'm able to let go of my neg. thoughts. I have to be aware to get myself out I also have to accept responsibility and cannot blame.
—Guest Mark

I believe that one of the best ways to stop negative thinking is to realize that it will be a happy ending. we will be in heaven someday and look at this experience and laugh and wonder why we were so worried about it. We will think this in heaven.
—Guest Ron

negative thinking comes from satin so if you put god first in your life everything else will follow for it is written ;fear not for i shall be with you always ,yes until the end of time;
—Guest larry g

I focus on the task at hand, like a job that needs to be done. On my own time, that's another story - thoughts in my head kick in. What helps me may seem strange as I am a Pagan. I listen to Christian radio and follow bible studies - that calms me though I'm not a believer. Writing helps a lot too. The act of telling a story and creating characters demands a full focus. In a way, it goes back to the one word - Focus. Prioritize...yeah, true. Right now focusing helps. And I guess one more thing, try to understand where another person is coming from and see everybody is related in life, even in a small way.
—Darkenwulf

I learned this tip from a fellow church member when a negative voice or thought enters your mind, just repeat to yourself "I bless you and send you back to where you came from". I don't care if you have to repeat this 10x just to quite the mind down, but do try it. I also might add that my psych had me on 18 different drugs during that time, and know only a fraction after had anything to do with it beats me.
—Guest johnnewlife

When I feel down and start to think negative I look at my photos of my kids which I have stored in my mobile from random days out !! I also find yoga helps to energise me in the morning and set me up to a positive start to the day as it destresses the body
—Guest Jia 321

A change of surroundings is always a big help, like mentioned before, when you're alone you think more, in the same surroundings it can make it so much worse, as you tend to get the feeling of "'i'm sick of being here", go into the market or town centre, even just window shopping.... It really helps :)
—Guest Kev-S

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