How do you get out of a mental spiral?

Having an outlet for that mental clutter will bring clarity and focus to your mind. Journaling is a great tool to help calm you down when you experience a depressive spiral and helps you realize that your negative thoughts aren't likely to occur.
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How do you stop a mental spiral?

5 Ways to Stop Spiraling Negative Thoughts from Taking Control
  1. Remove “should” thoughts.
  2. Recognize automatic negative thinking.
  3. Putting your thoughts on trial.
  4. Acknowledge how overwhelmed you feel.
  5. Don't force positive thoughts.
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How do you pull yourself out of an anxiety spiral?

Quick ways to cut off an anxiety spiral
  1. Check your thoughts. We typically have around 60,000 thoughts running through our minds every day, most of them outside our conscious awareness. ...
  2. Come back to the here and now. Worry thinking is not based on what's happening right now. ...
  3. Just breathe. ...
  4. Shift your focus. ...
  5. Postpone worrying.
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What does it mean to mentally spiral?

A downward spiral is when we can feel ourselves slipping into a lower mood and our mental health feels as though it's declining. They can be hard to handle because we might not really understand why things are sliding again.
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How do you handle spiraling?

Here are some methods to help change the channel and escape the downward thought spiral:
  1. Take a step back. ...
  2. Accept your thoughts. ...
  3. Draw on past experiences. ...
  4. Use a reinforcing statement. ...
  5. Change your anxiety routine. ...
  6. Try mindfulness. ...
  7. Breathe. ...
  8. Journal or start a diary.
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Anxiety Spirals



How do you get out of a thought loop?

How to break the negative thinking loop
  1. Recognise your thoughts.
  2. Challenge your thoughts.
  3. Be your own friend.
  4. Focus on positive people (and aim to be one)
  5. Watch what you're watching (and reading)
  6. Focus on the present.
  7. Bring the inside out.
  8. Talk about it.
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How can I stop Catastrophising?

Self-help strategies
  1. Pay attention. You may not realise you are catastrophising. ...
  2. Write your worries down. Keep a notebook or a 'worry list'. ...
  3. Postpone your worry. ...
  4. Focus on solutions. ...
  5. Challenge anxious thoughts. ...
  6. Problem Solving. ...
  7. Accept uncertainty. ...
  8. Be healthy.
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What is spiral anxiety?

This anxiety spiral — also known as “catastrophic thinking” or “magnifying,” — is cognitive distortion that often occurs alongside anxiety and depression. Think of your brain as a rocky mountain: one single negative thought loosens an avalanche of related anxieties.
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Why do I get stuck on a thought?

Intrusive thoughts can be a symptom of other mental illnesses, too, including depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder, bipolar disorder, substance use disorder and even burnout or chronic stress, therapist Kristin Erskine said.
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What to say to someone who is spiraling?

What to say and why
  • I'm here for you. ...
  • I'm not sure what to do, but I'm sure we can figure it out together. ...
  • I know it doesn't feel like it now but there is hope that things can get better. ...
  • This conversation is between you and me. ...
  • I have noticed you seem to be doing better lately.
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Why do I have spiraling thoughts?

This anxiety spiral — also known as “catastrophic thinking” or “magnifying,” — is cognitive distortion that often occurs alongside anxiety and depression. Think of your brain as a rocky mountain: one single negative thought loosens an avalanche of related anxieties.
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How do you mentally ground yourself?

These grounding exercises use mental distractions to help redirect your thoughts away from distressing feelings and back to the present.
  1. Play a memory game. ...
  2. Think in categories. ...
  3. Use math and numbers. ...
  4. Recite something. ...
  5. Make yourself laugh. ...
  6. Use an anchoring phrase. ...
  7. Visualize a daily task you enjoy or don't mind doing.
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What is the best medication for obsessive thoughts?

Medications
  • Clomipramine (Anafranil) for adults and children 10 years and older.
  • Fluoxetine (Prozac) for adults and children 7 years and older.
  • Fluvoxamine for adults and children 8 years and older.
  • Paroxetine (Paxil, Pexeva) for adults only.
  • Sertraline (Zoloft) for adults and children 6 years and older.
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How do you clear your mind?

Carving out time — even just a few minutes — to clear your mind is important for your mental health.
...
If you're feeling stuck, try these strategies:
  1. Go for a walk.
  2. Listen to music — it can have surprising benefits.
  3. Read a chapter of your favorite book.
  4. Doodle.
  5. Do a guided meditation or try some mindful breathing.
  6. Take a nap.
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How do you stop OCD spiral?

Tips for addressing ruminating thoughts
  1. Distract yourself. When you realize you're starting to ruminate, finding a distraction can break your thought cycle. ...
  2. Plan to take action. ...
  3. Take action. ...
  4. Question your thoughts. ...
  5. Readjust your life's goals. ...
  6. Work on enhancing your self-esteem. ...
  7. Try meditation. ...
  8. Understand your triggers.
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How do I reset my amygdala?

Thanks to plasticity, your brain can learn new therapeutic and lifestyle practices that work to shrink the amygdala, including: Meditation. A regular 30-minute meditation practice once a day can help reduce the size of the amygdala, which can make it easier for you to think rationally.
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What is a Catastrophist person?

catastrophist (comparative more catastrophist, superlative most catastrophist) Of, having, or being a theory that explains a situation by positing one or more catastrophic events, as opposed to gradual changes.
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How do you help someone who Catastrophizes?

While it might feel overwhelming, there are many ways to treat catastrophizing. If you think you have a tendency to catastrophize, talk to a psychologist or therapist. Find encouragement and support through 1-1 messaging and advice from others dealing with major depressive disorder.
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What is rumination anxiety?

Rumination is defined as engaging in a repetitive negative thought process that loops continuously in the mind without end or completion. The pattern can be distressing, difficult to stop, and unusually involves repeating a negative thought or trying to solve an evasive problem.
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Why won't My thoughts go away?

When intrusive thoughts or obsessions become uncontrollable to the point that they are affecting daily function, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) may be the explanation. OCD-intrusive thoughts that occur repeatedly throughout the day are unhealthy and interfere with quality of life.
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Can your brain get stuck in a loop?

Those with looping thoughts tend to come from perfectionist families, struggle with trauma, have anxiety disorders, or depressive symptoms. A looping thought is a coping mechanism. It is a subconscious tool to help a distressed individual escape from the present moment.
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How do you stop anxiety loops?

Take in a deep breath and hold it, noticing the tension it creates in the body. After 3 – 5 seconds, slowly release the air, telling yourself to let go and relax. Repeat this sequence a second time. After taking two Signal Breaths, proceed to the next step while breathing freely and naturally.
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How do I stop racing thoughts naturally?

7 ways to stop racing thoughts
  1. Focus on now, not the future or the past. For some people, racing thoughts stem from something that has not happened and may never happen. ...
  2. Take deep breaths. ...
  3. Think about other options. ...
  4. Use mantras. ...
  5. Try distractions. ...
  6. Exercise. ...
  7. Inhale lavender essential oil.
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What mental illness has intrusive thoughts?

Intrusive thoughts can be a symptom of anxiety, depression, or obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).
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How do you stop OCD thoughts naturally?

Exercise regularly.

Exercise is a natural and effective anti-anxiety treatment that helps to control OCD symptoms by refocusing your mind when obsessive thoughts and compulsions arise. For maximum benefit, try to get 30 minutes or more of aerobic activity on most days.
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