How do you heal dark thoughts?

[Orangeblossom85]

Guys!

How do you heal?

How do you get rid of dark thoughts?

How do you change exhausted and overwhelmed into relaxed?

How do you get calmer?

How do you move on?

What do you do?

What are the emergency tactics?

Please share so we can all learn

❤️

[faulhallen]

I heal a piece at a time.

I get rid of dark thoughts by trying to replace them with good ones. My daughter’s smile and my son’s laugh work well for me.

I can’t fix exhausted, my life is too hectic but I get calmer by forgiving myself for taking comfort in things I usually wouldn’t. I’ve been trying to eat a bit healthier so it’s ok to have a pop and a small bag of chips if I want. Smoking the rare cigar or taking time to play a video game since I barely play anymore. It’s ok to take a break.

I survive and remind myself that sometimes that’s all we can manage. I remind myself that I will thrive one day I just have to heal a bit more first.

[Orangeblossom85 in reply to faulhallen]

I actually believe that fear or anxiety makes us loose control. Control over us, over small things, over what we decide for. I like your comment very much, it makes me think a lot that the key to have an easier life is to actually take control where it’s given and decide for the best possible. What I usually, if not always, do is to just hide deep under my skin and under my duvet. I let people get the control and decide for my life, that results in big pressure of doing things I do not want... and at the end I find myself completely drained of life, where every tiny mistake seems to be a huge and unforgivable fault. Thank you for inspiring me. Thank you so much!

[rsherma]

Hi Orangeblossom85,

I have struggled with this in the past. The best thing to remember is that the reason most of these dark thoughts give us some anxiety and unpleasant emotions is that they are in direct conflict with our core values. So if our core values are opposite of the thoughts, then the thoughts are not our thoughts but rather the general "mind" trying to play its tricks on us.

Here are some remedies that have helped me during similar times:

-I started seeing a counselor a couple times a month. You don't have to tell the counselor anything you are not comfortable with. I simply said I have some thoughts that disturb me, and they can help with some remedies. Simply taking about your feelings will slowly help heal

-I began to write the dark thoughts in a journal. This helped give me the power back vs. the thoughts having power over me.

-I started a very strict morning routine that included exercise, reading and meditation, amongst other things.

-A daily gratitude practice will help get your mind on a positive train.

There are so many ways to help, but the last thing that really helped me get back the dark thoughts is to treat my thoughts as passing traffic. Just observe them going by without any attention paid to them.

I wish you all the best, and remember that you are not your thoughts. You are an amazing person who can do amazing things!

[TrueNorth]

Great questions, important post! I applaud your candor and succint writing.

Healing requires focused attention on the pain, so you'll need to experiment each time to figure out what you need for this particular pain to heal.

Distracting yourself when you are in pain can be useful if you need a little distance / time for yourself first (divorce, death of a loved one). But remember that your shelved feelings deserve attention. Make a date with yourself to revisit the feelings, to honor and heal them when you're ready to focus and work through it.

Dark thoughts Step 1 - They need to be released. They aren't helpful or important, so don't give them any energy by focusing on them. Write them down, throw them out. Sometimes I shred it. Somtimes I burn it. If I type the dark thoughts out, I trash the post/file. When I'm done, I imagine those thoughts drained from me, onto the screen, then I erase them. It makes me feel like I am taking control, removing those dark thoughts from the world so they can't influence someone else. Then step 2: nature abhors a vaccuum. When you've drained mood/thoughts, you need to actively choose to feel it/fill it with something helpful or nurturing to you. Some of my favorites are to say a prayer, make a wish, light a candle, brew a cup of tea. Imagine goodness, light, health, and send those thoughts out. Send them throughout your entire body, head to toe. Then send them throughout your home. Imagine bathing your house in good vibrations. Send them to your pets. Send them to your family. Out to your neighbors and your neighborhood. Thoughts grow stronger when shared.

My go-to emergency tactic - I keep a favorite positive meditation audiobook ready to play on my phone. Hit play, focus, and listen. Give your brain time to switch gears. Move into a little wishful thinking, positive daydreaming. Look for something to hope or accomplish. Just one goal. When you find that thought, write it down as a goal and keep it! Hold it in your hand. Post it on your mirror. Outloud, I say "This is what I want". That goal is good as long as it inspires you. When you're ready, replace it with another goal. Imagine moving forward, toward good, into the light.

When you're ready, reach out with the results of your healing lesson, and help someone else.

Please update us on any actions you're discovered that are helpful!

Sending best wishes.

[hurtingheart1 in reply to TrueNorth]

I love your reply this is very good advice- thank you for sharing this!☺️🌼

[TrueNorth in reply to hurtingheart1]

I'm so glad you found it uplifting! Sending thoughts of peace and relaxation your way.

[hurtingheart1 in reply to TrueNorth]

Thank you I need that I’m wide awake again it’s 2am!!😣

[Orangeblossom85 in reply to TrueNorth]

What would be goal to you?