Response to Out-of-State Question on Negative Thinking

Negative thinking is a way to PROTECT yourself. Figure out what you are protecting yourself from FIRST (https://twitter.com/AnatSamid)

After I posted that yesterday, I got the question from North Carolina about an interest in finding a therapist and learning about self from negative thoughts.  I responded...

You can always find someone local. A lot of therapists like me do videoconferencing and phone sessions too. A therapist is great to guide you but you can also take time to look at what was the first thing that came to your mind when you read the comment and also pay attention to what comes up in your body, thoughts and emotions when a negative thought surfaces.

"If I think this negative thought (i.e, nothing ever works for me) then I am protecting myself from experiencing......" (vulnerability, hurt, fear, etc). And then you try to think of the original hurt/emotional trauma. By noticing it you bring it from the unconscious to the conscious. And then you can start challenging it.

It's powerful stuff!