A podcaster I respect gave advice on dealing with negative thoughts by telling people to “shut the door on the thought”. That probably works wonders for her, but for people with anxiety disorders, it backfires.
My story of learning how to deal with intrusive thoughts
That fourth trimester was a wild ride. I wish someone had told me that 91% of new moms and 88% of fathers experience intrusive thoughts in the postpartum period. Or how to deal with them.
91% of mothers and 88% of fathers experienced upsetting intrusive thoughts about their newborn
Having Disturbing Thoughts as a New Parent? Here’s How to Cope, The New Yorrk Times
I was being hit will all these feelings from hormones and sleep exhaustion and then – the cherry on top – intrusive thoughts. ????
My mind kept replaying terrible memories of the Bosnian war news coverage that played nonstop in my house as a kid. I didn’t think of this stuff for decades. But suddenly the scenes and passages I had read came floating up and replaying nonstop in my head.
Intrusive thoughts also accompany anxiety disorders. So if you’re googling advice for “negative thoughts” and it’s not working, try my advice for “intrusive thoughts”. Sometimes the terms we use stop us from finding the advice we need.
Where am I getting my advice on intrusive thoughts?
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