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MENTAL WELLNESS MOMENT SCROLL DOWN FOR THE 9TH EDITION MWM NEWSLETTER

Do you have negative (distorted) thinking patterns? Yes - And so does everyone else.

We establish our patterns of thinking through personal experiences, family modeling, and within a development of protection for ourselves. The thoughts that you form regarding a circumstance have a very strong influence on the feelings that are generated. These negative feelings can lead to chronic states of depression and/or anxiety. Our thought patterns produce negative emotions which influence how we act and react (or, our behavior) to others and situations. Below is a list of the types of negative thinking patterns:

Black and White Thinking:

Viewing situations, people, or self as entirely bad or entirely good, with nothing in between. Thinking in this way leaves out the complexities of a situation, person, and yourself. Very rarely is something either this way or that way.

Exaggerated Thinking:

Making self-critical or other critical statements that include terms like ”never,” “nothing,” “everything,” or ”always.” Thinking in this way often creates barriers. Often, you will judge yourself so harshly that it creates self-blame, self-doubt, and low self-confidence.

Filtered/Discounted Thinking:

Ignoring the positive things that occur to and around yourself but focusing on and accentuating the negative, or, rejecting positive experiences as being unimportant or not meaningful. Thinking in this way lessens the quality of your life, because you will miss the positive things happening in your life, and further, it denies you from appreciating and acknowledging your strengths.

Catastrophized Thinking:

Blowing expected consequences out of proportion in a negative direction. Thinking in this way makes your consequences appear bigger than they are and usually incongruent to the situation; this when you might “blow up” about something minor.

“Feelings are Facts” Thinking:

Because you feel a certain way, reality is seen as fitting that feeling. Thinking in this way causes you to assume that because you are feeling a certain way then that is the reality of others and situations.

Forecasting:

Predicting events will turn out badly. Thinking in this way causes a constant sense of being “on guard” with all situations and not allowing you to be present or live in the moment. This is not the same as being cautious (careful); rather, this is predicting (expecting) an outcome. Caution keeps you present, but predicting puts you in the future, making you unable to enjoy the NOW.

Labeling:

Giving self or others a name that is identified by perceived negative behaviors. Thinking in this way creates an anticipation of negative behaviors without considering that it could be different.

Mind Reading:

Making negative assumptions regarding other people’s thoughts and motives. Thinking in this way… can produce unnecessary worries about someone else’s intention or about a situation.

Being able to acknowledge your negative thinking patterns will help you to:

  1. Begin to challenge your negative thoughts.
  2. Choose to re-frame your thoughts from negative to realistic.
  3. Promote more positive emotions from changing your negative thoughts.

Please seek your Student Support Counselor to assist you with re-framing your negative thoughts. Negative thought patterns may not have started with you, but it can end with you!

Please contact your ASA/ADON for resources or complete a Student Support Counselor Referral if you are experiencing unmanageable mental health symptoms and/or experiencing unsafe conditions that are affecting your academic success. Your Student Support Counselor will be able to assess your symptoms and get you the help that you need.

Please attend Open Consultation hours available on Thursdays 10am-12pm/6pm-8pm using the link below.

(You do not need a referral form completed for Open Consultation)

You are not alone. We are here for you.

Watch the video below to learn about our referral process to get resources and support.