I’ve been on a road of self discovery and learning how to deal with my anxiety/heal my health issues. I’ve talked about redirecting thoughts here but there’s even more ways to do this. One thing I have come across is neuroplasticity and rewiring the brain. Neuroplasticity is basically when your brain forms new synaptic connections to heal injury or disease.
Synapses are structures that permit neurons to send one signal to another. So synapses and neurons are the pathways for your thoughts. This has been able to heal all kinds of mental and physical health issues. Even things as severe as strokes! Whatever thoughts you have strengthens synapses which strengthens your learning, thinking and feelings.
Lets say you constantly think about how scared you are of talking to people. You get panicky when you see people, you dread the thought of going out because you might have to talk to someone. You are terrified of social interaction. Those thoughts strengthen your synapses so your fear continues to stay strong and alive.
But there is good news! Your thoughts can CHANGE your brain structure. No I didn’t make a mistake. YOU can make yourself stop feeling like you are a prisoner in your own mind. Since whatever thoughts strengthen your synapses you can create new pathways and strengthen those.
Think about your worst fear. Notice how your body is feeling. You might feel sick all over, your heart may be racing, you might be shaking your foot or your chest feels tight. You did that all with one thought, one fear. If you can make yourself feel sick, isn’t it possible you can do the opposite with a thought?
The way to fix this is so easy you wont believe me. I did not come up with this myself and I’m not sure who did so I can’t give them credit. But most people would brush it off because it seems too easy. I would say this, what do you have to loose? You’ve been suffering for so long why not give it a try?
The very first thing after you realize you are in an anxious negative thought, is to say out loud or in your head, “Cancel, Cancel, Cancel.” Simple as that! Why 3 times? I really don’t know but there is something about your brain and the power of 3’s.
When you say “cancel”, it brings awareness to your mind that you want to change the course of your thoughts. Don’t say it with anger or in a loud voice. Try taking deep calming breaths with a smile so you don’t associate saying cancel like you are doing something wrong or you are in trouble.
You are stopping and canceling out that thought pattern that continues to haunt you. People mistake it with stopping there. After you cancel it you need to direct your mind to how you do want to think.
People’s first thoughts when they start thinking about their fears or negative things is to either continue to think about it into they are in a full blown anxiety attack. Or they will tell it to go away and then get angry when it continues to reappear in their thoughts. That is why neither works.
Here is the thing we hesitate to realize when having anxiety, the scary thoughts are just that..they are just scary thoughts. They are not really happening and thinking it does not mean it is going to happen. 90% of fearful thoughts are unlikely to happen.
Instead try to imagine things in your control in a positive way. In the car and worried you are going to get in a car accident? Cancel, cancel, cancel and then imagine yourself going down the road relaxed, strong and in the direction you are wanting to go.
Thoughts popping up that you are a low life and won’t amount to anything? Cancel,cancel,cancel and imagine yourself being strong and working hard in your work or the thing you are heading towards.
Can’t stop obsessing and torturing yourself about a situation? Cancel, cancel, cancel and then imagine yourself getting through the situation with ease or handling it in the best way possible.
You are not trying to avoid the situation, you aren’t imaging yourself dealing with the fear or negativity in an unrealistic way. You aren’t trying to think in a “wishful thinking” way. You are imagining it in a positive realistic way, the way you would like to handle it. Beliefs become thoughts which become actions.
Imagine how you would handle the situation or how you would like to deal with it rather than the outcome like we do when we are having anxious thoughts.
Like most things in life, things don’t stay when you do it once or twice. You spent a good chunk of your life with these thoughts it takes some time and practice to retrain your subconscious. You know, your subconscious, the part of the brain that hinders your thoughts that you are not aware of which then influence your actions and feelings. Our brains are that cool that we can rewire our subconscious.
You see, your brain is a muscle and just like when you go to the gym, you don’t get buff and skinny over night. It takes practice, dedication and hard work! Same as your mind and your thinking patterns. It takes time and practice.
Your brain can heal itself by repetition believe it or not. Our brains are always growing and changing and you really can rewire your brain to be a better happier healthier you. Commit to doing it at least 3 weeks and watch yourself associate with less negative thoughts and see thoughts become less scary.
What do you think? Have something you want to share? Need help? Leave it all in the comments below!
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[…] does not have to rule your life! Everyone works differently and there are different coping mechanisms you could try. But the one thing we all have in common is that our thoughts are scary, catastrophic […]