Many people battling anxiety or depression have irrational thoughts that lead them to believe that things are worse than they are. As a result, they may make a huge deal out of something that is happening now or something coming up in the future. When you have these feelings, bringing them back down and having a different perspective can ease your worry.

Although anxiety and depression are different, there is a large population of people with one, the other, or both. Usually, depression involves negative thoughts that may feel intrusive or bring out pessimistic fears, leading to a sense of worry and anxiety.

Changing Your Thoughts

Although it may be easier said than done, changing your thought process is a crucial contributor to lessening the impact of anxiety or depression. The disasters you worry about haven’t happened yet, and chances are they won’t. Even if the things or scenarios you fear do happen, the consequences usually aren’t as bad as you thought they would be. You may even experience some uncomfortable or painful situations but rarely are the problems long-term.

If you continue to worry, you may not realize the consequences are not as bad as they seem. If you battle depression and anxiety, the idea that things are not as bad as they seem is typically not a thought you naturally think. It takes time, practice, and patience to change your thought process. Sometimes, you never completely figure it out, but you will better understand how to cope if you establish healthy patterns.

Speak Kindly to Yourself

Changing your mental state can be as simple as reminding yourself of a reasonable perspective or thought process. This can help put the negative thoughts to rest. Start by making a list of positive affirmations you believe you need to hear throughout the day.

List of Positive Affirmations

• Relax.
• This is temporary.
• I did the best I could do.
• I no longer have control.
• Slow down.
• One day at a time.
• Be patient.
• It’s ok to make mistakes.
• Will this matter five years from now?

When you replace the negative tendencies with more positive or realistic thoughts, you will have a healthier mind in the long run. You can use these kind words for yourself when you are faced with triggers that may cause you to be anxious.

Put the Positivity Into Action

Words of affirmation are a huge part of changing your thought process for a better mental state, but by no means is it effective for everyone. There are plenty of other ways to put yourself in a feel-good mentality that involve tangible contribution. You can adjust your overall plan to fit your lifestyle, performing yoga or meditation to help calm the mind. Yoga works to take away from the negative thoughts that bring about stress and worry. This practice also enables you to stay in the present moment, helping you avoid stress about what the future may hold. The most important moment is the current one, and yoga and meditation help maintain that.

Sometimes the larger issues we have in our life can be resolved with minor changes. An act as simple as smiling can change the trajectory of not only your day but also someone else’s. One thing that can keep the smiles coming is surrounding yourself with positive-minded people.

By filling your life with people with optimistic outlooks, you can help yourself shift your thoughts from negative to positive. You have probably heard of the saying, “look at the glass half-full.” In many of life’s tasks, you will be met with adversity and stress. This is where a strong positive mind helps you prevail. A positive mental state prevents you from playing the victim. Ultimately, you create your life. Taking responsibility will leave you feeling full and in control of your own happiness.

Hold Yourself Accountable

Anxiety and depression are mental states you wouldn’t wish on your worst enemy. Most who struggle with either (or both) lose control of their mindset when their fears present themselves. Although everyone copes with these feelings differently, holding yourself accountable can help across the board.

Sometimes when you truly want to be healthy, you have to take a look in the mirror and make sure you are not playing the victim. You have the opportunity to change the situations you are in and adjust your thoughts on the matter. This mentality counters sulking and thinking about all of the awful things that have happened or that could happen. When you are in a funk, it can be easy to blame others; instead, you can take the focus away from yourself and help others.

 

Changing the way you think requires a lot of hard and consistent work. The process of change looks different for everybody. For some people, speaking affirmations can invigorate them enough to be motivated to make a change. Others may need more action. Although there are many tips on changing your mindset, you have to figure out what works best for you. If you have not been able to gain a positive mental state, or your depression has led you to abuse substances, then seeking professional help could be what you need. Facilities like The Kimberly Center are specially made for people in similar situations. They provide a plethora of services that can help you or your loved ones overcome the problems that come with mental health disorders or addiction. Contact us at (855) 452-3683 to get more information on how we can help you in your battle with mental disorders or addiction.