We all have negative thoughts from time to time, but some people are consumed by them and constantly worry about negative thinking. Millions of people deal with negative thinking by turning to drugs and alcohol and will often struggle with addiction brought on by their obsessive thoughts. If you or a loved one struggles with intrusive thoughts, help is available through an accredited mental health treatment program.
Recovery Ranch PA is a complete addiction and mental health treatment center located in Wrightsville along the Susquehanna River. We work with people from all walks of life who struggle with negative thinking through cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), mindfulness practices, and other beneficial therapies. To learn more about our dialectical behavior therapy services, call 717.969.9126 today to speak with our knowledgeable team.
What Are Intrusive Thoughts?
Intrusive thoughts are unwanted, distressing, or disturbing thoughts, images, or impulses that happen to everyone. They’re generally about the individual, friends, family, or people nearby. Most people will have these intrusive thoughts and be able to ignore them. For some, they can overwhelm them to the point where their daily lives are affected.
If you continually have intrusive or negative thoughts, it could be symptoms of depression or anxiety. For instance, negative thinking is a symptom of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Examples of intrusive thoughts include:
- Sexual thoughts
- Violent thoughts
- Negative or self-doubting thoughts
- Health-related thoughts
- Religious thoughts
- Death or suicidal thoughts
- Thoughts about your and your loved ones’ safety
- Trauma-related thoughts
If you can’t ignore intrusive or negative thoughts, talking with a therapist can help. Recovery Ranch PA supports anyone whose intrusive thoughts are ruining their day-to-day lives. We’ll build a comprehensive treatment program that includes dialectical behavior therapy, holistic therapy, and medication-assisted treatment (MAT) to ease disruptive symptoms.
Overcoming Negative Thinking
For most people, they can overcome negative thinking easily, but for millions of people, they’re not so lucky. They struggle to control their thoughts, and it can cause depression, anxiety, substance abuse, and other mental health issues. If you struggle with negative thinking, here are some healthy ways of overcoming negative thinking.
Practice Mindfulness
Mindfulness is the practice of staying in the present moment instead of obsessing over negative thoughts and past, present, or future events. It can help you become more aware of your thoughts and self-awareness. Mindfulness practices include:
- Meditation
- Deep breathing
- Yoga
- Practicing gratitude
- Living in the present moment
Participating in therapy sessions can help in learning how to build mindfulness practices.
Reframing Negative Thinking
Recognizing when you have negative thoughts takes time and practice, and it’s a lifelong struggle. When negative thoughts become intrusive, you think of something different. Recite a positive personal mantra or daily affirmations. Over time, you’ll notice that you’re doing this automatically, and your negative thinking will stop.
Create Healthy Activities
One way to stop negative thoughts is by staying busy with favorite activities, like exercising, reading, or spending time with friends. Join a gym with exercise classes that you can sign up for. Start a book club with your friends. Take a cooking class, learn to play a new instrument, or work on getting a degree.
Enroll in a Therapy Program
Joining a therapy program is the best way to learn how to cope with intrusive thoughts and negative thinking. They use behavioral therapy to better understand the reasons behind the negative thoughts and develop healthy coping skills to manage symptoms and triggers. Types of behavioral therapy include:
- Dialectical behavior therapy
- Cognitive-behavioral therapy
- Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT)
- Motivational interviewing (MI)
- Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR)
Treatment programs use a variety of behavioral and holistic therapies and medication to ease any depressive or anxiety symptoms and addiction withdrawals.
Enroll in Our Dialectical Behavior Therapy Program Today at Recovery Ranch PA
Recovery Ranch PA welcomes Pennsylvania residents who are obsessing over intrusive thoughts and want to find a healthy way to cope. If you or a loved one struggles with negative thinking, call 717.969.9126 or contact our team online today to enroll in our dialectical behavior therapy program.