Navigating through Negative Thoughts

Why stories are dangerous for me?

• Negative thoughts are usually rooted in an event with a narrative.

• The event is real. The narrative is something my brain created.

• They might not even be verifiable, either because there’s no well defined measure or the reality can only be revealed in time.

• In either case, it is a creation out of thin air. So it’s okay to discard that. Just keep the event.

How to handle extremes?

Switching Thoughts

• Work on a realistic plan which gets me out of the situation.

• Work daily on executing the plan.

• Brown noise, classical music helps.

• Talking out loud helps.

Chemical Boosts

• Getting the good juices flowing helps. Push limits in gym. Sex.

• Dopamine from achieving small milestones.

• Dopamine from external validation.

• Quick turn-off-brain poisons are the last resort.

Shutting Thoughts Down

• Putting on some loud music helps.

• Sleeping helps. If not able to sleep, physically tiring the hell out of myself helps.