Negative Thinking Patterns: Break Free from the Cycle of Negative and Unhelpful Thoughts
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is an evidence-based psychotherapy treatment designed to decrease the distress level associated with traumatic memories. EMDR utilizes eye movements, tapping devices, manual tapping, or audio-based bilateral stimulation simultaneously while the client attends to emotionally disturbing material in brief consecutive doses. Bilateral stimulation is believed to enhance information processing and assist the client with creating new associations between the traumatic or distressing memories and more adaptive memories or information. According to psychiatrist and trauma expert Bessel Van der Kolk, trauma can become stuck in the body. He believes unprocessed traces of a distressing experience remains in the body and can cause somatic-based symptoms such as pain and discomfort. The use of EMDR can lead to a significant decrease in hyperarousal and distress linked to traumatic events and related triggers and can ultimately help an individual to move forward both mentally and physically.
What Is Negative Thinking Disorder?
Negative thinking disorder describes a pattern of chronic, automatic negative or unhelpful thoughts that may include:
- Catastrophizing (expecting the worst)
- Black-and-white thinking (all-or-nothing mindset)
- Personalization (blaming yourself for everything)
- Overgeneralization (believing one bad event means ongoing failure)
These thoughts can fuel anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, and emotional distress. Without treatment, they can become deeply ingrained and influence how you view yourself, others, and the world.
How Is Negative Thinking Treated?
Negative thinking disorder treatment focuses on assisting clients in recognizing the negative thinking and identifying and transforming harmful thought patterns into healthier, more balanced perspectives. At Integrative Counseling Center, we offer evidence-based therapies tailored to your unique needs, including:
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
CBT is a proven approach for addressing negative thinking. It can help individuals recognize, challenge, and replace distorted thoughts with more constructive and balanced alternatives. You can learn practical strategies to break the cycle of negativity and develop new ways of processing information and interpreting daily events.
- Mindfulness-Based Therapy
Mindfulness practices can help one to become more aware of thought patterns without reacting to them emotionally. This approach encourages acceptance of thoughts and emotions with a non-judgmental awareness, which ultimately helps individuals learn to experience uncomfortable thoughts and emotions without letting them control them.
- Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT)
SFBT helps individuals focus on solutions rather than problems, shifting the mindset away from negativity and toward achievable goals and strengths.
- Psychodynamic Therapy
For those whose negative thinking stems from unresolved trauma and past experiences, psychodynamic-based approaches tend can be helpful because they go deeper and consider the role past experiences play on current issues. This can ultimately help to uncover underlying factors and help and individual to begin to identify and deconstruct deeply ingrained core beliefs.
