For people in recovery, it’s easy to spiral into negative thinking. You may be used to operating in a mindset of guilt, shame, and fear. When you begin your recovery journey, cultivating a more positive mindset is crucial. With the right tools and guidance, you can stop letting negative thoughts control you and find lasting success in recovery.
When Negative Thoughts Control You: Lasting Effects
Negative thoughts can infiltrate every area of your life. They can be especially harmful if you’ve experienced addiction, depression, anxiety, and more. When you’re in a negative mindset, you can become stuck in a downward spiral. The more negative you think and feel, the more negative thoughts and feelings will pop up.
According to the United States Department of Veteran’s Affairs (VA), the field of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) emphasizes that “negative thought patterns can have a profound effect on our physical and mental well-being.” The way we perceive situations or daily life can lead to high levels of stress. Negative thinking can also contribute to conditions like anxiety and depression.
When Negative Thoughts Control You in Recovery
If you’ve experienced substance use disorder (SUD), trauma, or any mental health condition, you are probably no stranger to negative thinking. On their own, these issues can be very negative. Their lasting effects can also greatly influence your mindset.
Conditions like depression and anxiety are also linked to consistent negative feelings and beliefs. You may feel hopelessness and helplessness or live in constant fear. These are all feelings that take hold in your body.
Stop Letting Negative Thoughts Control You: Getting Out of Your Mind and Into Your Body
It may sound strange at first, but the best way to break negative thinking is by getting out of your mind and into your body. Negative thoughts and emotions don’t just take up mental space. They can also live as energy and memories in your body.
Years of substance use, self-harm, or the lasting effects of trauma can create a disconnect between yourself and your body. To begin healing, you may want to first forgive yourself for any harm you have done to your vessel.
Body-Focused Healing Techniques
Success in recovery will come from the full spectrum of healing. This means that you should utilize tools to help you heal your mindset, your body, and even your soul. The program at The Guest House is an excellent example of comprehensive care.
In order to stop letting negative thoughts control you, it’s important to come back to your body. When you tap into your body, you can begin to regain a sense of control. You’ll also see that thoughts are just that: thoughts. They do not define you, and just as negative thoughts can be created, they can also be released.
Somatic Therapy
Negative thoughts often stem from past traumas and experiences. These experiences can then live on as energy, or memories, in your body. Somatic experiencing (SE), or somatic therapy, is an excellent tool to help you bring awareness to and release these memories.
According to a 2021 study in the European Journal of Psychotraumatology, the primary goal of SE is to “modify the trauma-related stress response.” This stress response can live on in your body long after the traumatic event is over. It can also affect your mindset, emotions, and all parts of your daily life.
Through SE, you will learn how to gradually reduce the negative effects of trauma by bringing awareness to different parts of your body. Through this awareness plus light body movements, these feelings and thoughts can eventually be released. SE is also a wonderful tool to help you reconnect with your body.
Yoga
When one thinks of strengthening their connection with the body, yoga may come to mind. Yoga is an ancient Eastern practice that incorporates elements of meditation, breathing, stretching, and light exercise.
According to a 2011 study in the International Journal of Yoga, this practice is a form of “mind-body medicine” that addresses the “full scope of a person’s life including physical, mental, emotional and spiritual aspects of the individual in disease and health.”
Yoga can have profound effects on negative thinking. Studies have shown significant improvement in negative emotions after participating in yoga. This is a practice that can also help you build confidence, self-love, and self-esteem.
Meditation and Mindfulness
These last two mind-body practices may just be the most effective for breaking negative thinking. Meditation and mindfulness are therapies that help you enjoy the present moment as it’s unfolding.
Meditation is a form of mindfulness, where you usually focus on your breathing, an object, or a sound. When negative thoughts arise, this practice helps you gently observe them without judgment. Becoming the observer of your thoughts will help you break any control they have over you.
Other mindful practices help you stay in the present moment by utilizing your five senses. You may want to take a mindful walk by listening to your feet as they hit the ground. Any daily activity can also be done mindfully like eating, brushing your teeth, or reading. This helps you overcome negative thinking and cultivate a more positive mindset by finding life’s simple joys in the present moment.
Healing the Mind, Body, and Soul at The Guest House
If you’re ready to stop letting negative thoughts control you, look no further than The Guest House. Here, we utilize a trauma-specific and comprehensive approach to healing. Our cutting-edge program includes therapies to help you heal on a physical, mental, and spiritual level.
At The Guest House we offer a wide array of innovative and holistic therapies. Here you can enjoy meditation, yoga, and somatic therapy in a safe and supportive environment.
No matter how negative your thoughts may be, changing your mindset is possible. You will find all the tools and care you need at The Guest House.
In order to stop letting negative thoughts control you, it’s important to get out of your mind and into your body. At The Guest House, we have everything you need for a mind-body approach to healing. Our trauma-specific program includes a cutting-edge blend of traditional and holistic therapies that will help you heal your mind, body, and soul. We offer modalities like somatic therapy, meditation, and yoga to help you reconnect with your body, build confidence, and create the positive mindset needed for lasting success. No matter what you may be struggling with, there is something for everyone here at The Guest House. For more information, call us at (855) 483-7800.