Leethan Grandison, Outlook Youth Writer
Are you a negaholic? A negaholic is someone who, consciously or not, consistently chooses to be negative. Over time, this tends to develop into a habit that is difficult, but not impossible to break.
However, it might not be your intention to be pessimistic, but being contrary, doubtful and wary might be ingrained in your character, or you could be suffering from a neurological chemical imbalance, according to social scientists.
BRAIN STRAIN
According to a 2002 study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, a condition called "negative affect" was defined as a "range of unpleasant mood states, such as irritability, anxiety, and anger. The article further stated that 'negative affect' could be identified physiologically by increased brain activity in the prefrontal cortex. But, although it purported to be a permanent condition, it is said that it can be controlled.
When negativity is the direct consequence of a failed relationship or the death of a loved one, or worse, the loss of a job, it is considered a reactive mood disturbance and is generally a temporary condition.
So whether or not your negative thinking pattern is ingrained in your personality/stems from a particular experience, it is characterised by physiological changes in your brain. The brain is composed of millions of neurons - nerve cells that send and receive messages from the body using neurotransmitter chemicals, which can be disrupted by a chemical imbalance.
There's no shame in seeking counselling or medical treatment to remedy a chemical imbalance and improve your quality of life. If pervasive feelings of hopelessness, a lack of energy and an inability to function well persist for more than two weeks, they are considered to be symptomatic of clinical depression. Medication can help the brain regain control.
There are ways to counter your negative thinking patterns if they are habitual rather than a diagnosable medical condition. As such, Outlook Youth did our homework in order to help you adopt a positive attitude.
SHAKE NEGATIVE THINKING PATTERNS
Identify your triggers
Become aware of when negative thoughts occur. Your thinking may become distorted when you're tired or hungry, or when work pressures pile up. Monitoring your negative thinking patterns will help you identify what triggers them, enabling you to regain control.
Don't sabotage yourself
Expect and accept bumps in the road. Eliminate negative thoughts, recriminations and self-criticism. Don't dwell on past incidents - learn from them and move on. Changing the way you view your world will allow you to see opportunities in obstacles.
Adopt coping strategies
Remember past falls that inspired negative thoughts and remind yourself of how you got out of them. You may find that investing in a journal might be useful in helping you to navigate through one of your moments until you regain your equilibrium.
Think before you speak
Once spoken words cannot return, all you can do is try to alter what was said. So force yourself to avoid saying anything negative for a few days. Additionally, think twice before talking and you'll become much more aware of your negative thought patterns. Try to visualise flipping a switch when a sarcastic or unbecoming comment is about to spout, or when defeatist self-deprecating talk creeps in.
Accepting others
It doesn't hurt to create a new habit of becoming more accepting of others and yourself.
Sources: ttp://health.yahoo.com www.healthforums.com, www. ec-online.net www.depression. com, www.negaholics.com, www.pnas.org.
