For me, accomplishing something everyday helps keep the negative brain chatter to a minimum. Nothing crazy, but stuff like cleaning the house, reading a couple of chapters of a good book, going for a walk or a half hour on the exercise bike. A big one for me is also keeping clean and looking presentable. For some reason, if I feel like shit, I’ll get showered, have a shave, moisturise and I’ll feel great.

Like I said, little things.

Hi - sorry to hear that you're experiencing this. First, "negative thoughts" is a pretty broad term, so I'd be curious about what type of negative thoughts you are experiencing. Are these negative thoughts about yourself, your situation, the world, or others? Regardless, you've got a few options.

1. Distraction/ Healthy Avoidance

As Loud-Distance-1456 says, keeping busy can help calm the "flood." Try and find some positive activities to engage with that can distract you. Bonus points if you can do so in a social setting with friends or family.

[Here is a helpful list of distractions.] (https://hopefulpanda.com/distraction/).

2. Confront the Negative Thoughts

Are these rational negative thoughts, aka are they in proportion to the issue you're having or are these irrational negative thoughts, out of proportion, things we call "cognitive distortions."

Pretend you're a detective and you need to find evidence about whether or not these thoughts are rational or irrational.

Take a look at this website about [Cognitive Distortions] (https://positivepsychology.com/cognitive-distortions/) and see if your thinking patterns match up with some of those described. Once you have identified the type of negative thoughts you have, use the Cognitive Behavioral Therapy techniques to confront these negative thoughts and see if you can poke holes in them or make them more neutral.

3. Detach from the Negative Thoughts

If the "flood" is too powerful or you feel confronting the thoughts isn't helpful, try to "detach" from the thought. Read through this exercise [Leaves on a Stream] (https://www.therapistaid.com/therapy-worksheet/leaves-on-a-stream-worksheet) and practice it to help create some distance between you and these negative thoughts. [Here is a guided "Leaves on a Stream" exercise.] (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=exLaebgFO_8).

These are three basic tools you can use to help with these thoughts. There are definitely other techniques but try to start here before you work your ways to others. If the negative thoughts persist or begin to turn towards suicide or self-harm, get in touch with a mental health professional. Sorry that you're having this and hopefully this gets better.

Hello and welcome to r/LifeProTips!

Please help us decide if this post is a good fit for the subreddit by up or downvoting this comment.

If you think that this is great advice to improve your life, please upvote. If you think this doesn't help you in any way, please downvote. If you don't care, leave it for the others to decide.

[removed]

[deleted]

If negative thoughts keep flooding in, there might be a reason why. Just pretending there us no cause and forcing yourself to think positive thoughts might be counterproductive. Identify if there's something in your life which is causing problems. Maybe the negative thoughts are indications that you need to address the root cause.

There's no one trick suits all sadly.

It depends what the negative or intrusive thoughts are, why they started, if you can negotiate with yourself and genuinely realise the reason they're happening due to things out of your control.

Sometimes the thoughts can be OCD based, or more of a learned behaviour, that's why it's best to speak to a psychologist.

Research one that's got a history and good reviews and If you can, try that.

You can get some terrible psychologists, but eventually you'll find one that understands.

Wishing you all the best

See a doctor to make sure there isn't a medical reason for your flood of negative thoughts.

As soon as it starts happening, actively focus on something else more pleasant or absorbing. Think of something that interests you and take classes in it. Learn a new language. Study bugs. Knit. Set a goal and focus on it, like, "I want to get my real estate license". I want to become a real good birdwatcher. Whatever. The central point of this advice is to think about something else.

Here are a few that changed my life for the better:

PART 1

1. If you can't have what you want, think about something else.

You will be happy with the new thing too. Your happiness is your responsibility. Don't mope around. Move on! It's a big world out there.

2. If I keep going in this direction, I'm bound to get where I'm headed.

If your marriage is in trouble, should you start having lunch with that cutie at work? Be honest with yourself and identify your goals. Maybe you should end the marriage but don't fool yourself with, "The affair just happened!" No, it didn't. Little steps add up to big consequences. Identify your goal and be honest about the steps needed to reach it.

3. Simplify decision making.

--When making a difficult choice, choose the option that leaves the most options open afterwards. Trim the branches before cutting down the tree.

--Only compare two things at a time, choose one, and never consider the unchosen one again. Compare the winner to Option 3 and pick one. Etc. The last one standing is the winner.

PART 2

Bad things happen. People hurt you. A job might suck. Whatever. When tough things happen, you essentially have three choices:

1. Stay feeling miserable. You can keep trying and trying to fix it and stay miserable because nothing ever works or stop trying and wait in a state of misery for the situation to fix itself.

2. Figure out a way to find honest peace with the situation. That doesn't mean never thinking about it and never feeling sad but when you do feel upset you actively change the focus of your attention to something else and get back to peace and fun as quickly as possible. In short, don't mope around thinking about it all the time. Think about something else.

3. Leave the situation completely. And think about something else.

For me, Option 1 is not an option. At some point in my life I decided staying in a situation where I'm relentlessly unhappy or stressed is unacceptable. That one decision improved my life dramatically. The tricky part is knowing and accepting when nothing is working. You don't want to quit too easily but trying over and over fruitlessly or waiting for too long is harmful.

Option 2 can work. I was deeply hurt by members of my family. I was in a state of "leave or stay?" for a year but I was able to find peace with what they had done. Its not like I never think about what they did but I chose to accept they are flawed in a way that led them to betray me. They have other wonderful qualities that has made it well worth my while to keep in contact with them.

Option 3 also works. I been where things are so upsetting and irreparable that I had to leave. I didn't look back and am happy with that choice.

A crucial part is to think about something else.

Good luck!

you need to get out of yourself

Volunteer to help others or simply do one good deed for another human each day!

Find out why you're thinking these thoughts and unconditional acceptance of your thoughts and yourself is a good start

10 mg Escitalopram

150 mg Buproprion

If racing thoughts continue, supplement with 100 mg Gabapentin to slow your brain down.