Intrusive Thoughts and Mindfulness

This video discusses the concept of intrusive thoughts and how they can lead to negative emotions. It suggests mindfulness as a technique to break the cycle of these thoughts, offering practical tips such as focusing on senses and practicing breathing exercises.

Let's talk about intrusive thoughts and mindfulness. Negative emotions may come about from spending too much time in your mind and not enough time in the present moment. Instead of focusing on the conversation you're having or the food you're eating, your mind may be elsewhere. If there's something in your life that's making you feel anxious or sad, your brain will likely focus on that. What your brain is doing here is trying to problem-solve and think its way out of the source of anxiety or sadness. The truth is, you likely cannot solve the problem just by thinking about it. Instead, you end up fixating on whatever is causing you the negative feeling, often making the negative feeling even worse. This is an example of an intrusive thought cycle. A good way to break out of the cycle is through mindfulness. Mindfulness is much easier said than done. Just like any skill, mindfulness takes a lot of practice. During your day, try and take a couple of minutes at a time just to notice. Focus on your senses. What do you see, hear, taste, smell, and feel? Practicing breathing exercises is another way to develop mindfulness. The more you practice, the easier it will be to use mindfulness to refocus your attention and stop the negative thought cycle.