Worrying thoughts can grind us down and cause us to feel anxious, stressed and/or depressed. The same thoughts going through your mind again and again is also referred to as overthinking or ruminating. This can happen at any time but is most like to happen at night, affecting sleep which will then affect the general state of mind and wellbeing. It can be a vicious circle – but there are ways to deal with these same, worrying thoughts.
Here are some tips:
- Keep a pen and paper by your bed so you can write your thoughts down.
- Give yourself 10 minutes every day to take time to write down your thoughts or worries. Allocating yourself time to do this everyday will help to clear your mind to some extent. At other times of the day, remind yourself that you will have time to contemplate later.
- Practice mindfulness.
- Use the Worry Tree strategy…
The Worry Tree strategy
Ask yourself, is the worry something you can do anything about? If not, then let the worry go.
We realise this is easier said than done, but you can train your mind to do this, or perhaps talk it through with someone else. Remember the saying: ‘A problem shared is a problem halved’!
If there is something you can do about a worry, do it. Either straight away or plan it for later. This simple strategy is effective and used by children, young people and adults.
