Stress, huge amounts of information, the latest gossip … Stop! It's time to give your brain a break.
The rhythm of our life is constantly accelerating, and we, willy-nilly, have to adapt to the world around us. Sometimes the brain simply cannot cope with the incoming information, but we still have to solve hundreds of different problems every day. Even our thoughts can have a negative impact: we constantly ask ourselves questions about others or about our personal qualities and often cannot find an answer. All this leads to the fact that the brain reacts with feelings of anxiety and anxiety, as well as a sense of its own worthlessness.
This excess of negative thoughts is commonly referred to by psychologists as mental intoxication, by analogy with physical intoxication with drugs or alcohol. Fortunately, there are several exercises that can help you deal with this problem.
1. Express your thoughts on paper
It often happens that in order to get rid of an obsessive thought, you just need to write it down. So grab a clean notebook and pen, unplug your phone, and get ready to write whatever comes your way. This technique is often called automatic writing. Its essence is that in the restless stream of consciousness there is one single thought, which serves as the key to everything. Write as much as you want, and then read and analyze everything you write. What is the main idea around which your thoughts revolve?
2. Go for a walk
Set aside 20 minutes for yourself. Go to a place you are accustomed to walking, so that you don't have to think about where to go next. Walk with a calm pace, not too slow or too fast. Try to shut off your thoughts, concentrate on your breathing. Feel how it changes depending on the pace of your stride. Feel the wind blowing down your back or the heat from the sun. Dive into yourself, concentrate on the physical sensations.
This distraction can give your brain time to take a break from mental problems. Use this method whenever the need arises.
3. "Push" problems onto the paper
This method is similar to the first one, except that you will need a pen and paper again.
Write down your concerns as a whole list. Do not divide them into serious and minor, write down everything. After that, as you read through what has been written, concentrate on each of the problems separately. Thoroughly remember how you felt at the moment the problem appeared, every emotion you had. Breathe deeply and evenly. After you feel the weight of the problem on your shoulders, exhale forcefully with your diaphragm. Imagine all your experiences coming out of your lungs like a cloud of red smoke. Do this for each problem on your list.
