Have you ever considered the worst-case scenario of an event, only\nfor the thought to keep circling in your head even after the situation\nhas changed? A recent psychology study shows that negative thoughts\nbecome harder to let go of when they interact with negative emotions and\nthe habit of repeatedly dwelling on problems (rumination).<\/p>\n
According to a report by Psychology Today, research led by Lisa M. W.\nVos together with Jonas Everaert, Ph.D., from Tilburg University and KU\nLeuven revealed that people often become trapped in negative\ninterpretations of situations that are actually still ambiguous.<\/p>\n
For example, when a text message goes unanswered, a person may\ninitially assume their friend is busy. However, upon seeing that friend\nactive on social media, the assumption arises that they are being\navoided. The main problem lies in the inability to revise the initial\nassumption even when comparative information or a new explanation\nbecomes available.<\/p>\n
The study involved 179 adults with varying levels of depression and\nanxiety symptoms and ran for 14 days. Through monitoring six times a\nday, the researchers found that participants with high levels of\ndepressive and social anxiety symptoms had the greatest difficulty\nletting go of negative interpretations.<\/p>\n
The researchers identified a strong reciprocal relationship between\nthoughts and emotions.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis relationship shows a two-way influence between thoughts and\nemotions that reinforce one another,\u201d explained Jonas Everaert, Ph.D.,\nAssistant Professor of Clinical Psychology at Tilburg University.<\/p>\n
The findings confirm that maintaining mental health does not mean a\nperson must always be forced to think positively. What is far more\ncrucial is building the capacity for cognitive flexibility \u2014 that is,\nthe willingness to revisit one\u2019s initial thoughts when new facts\nemerge.<\/p>\n
When a negative thought takes hold, one need not immediately replace\nit with a positive thought, but simply consider rational alternative\nexplanations.<\/p>\n
In addition, emotional management \u2014 such as reducing pressure,\nstopping the habit of rumination, seeking social support, and\nredirecting attention towards positive experiences \u2014 is considered\nhelpful in enabling a person to think more flexibly. Nevertheless, the\nresearchers emphasise that this study is still mapping the relationships\nbetween psychological processes and requires further research to test\nthe effectiveness of clinical intervention strategies.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/experts-explain-why-negative-thoughts-are-hard-to-banish-from-the-mind-1788832275", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }