topic Re: Shut Down the Mean Voice Inside Your Head in Leave a Health Tip

Shut Down the Mean Voice Inside Your Head

AARPMaggie — Mon, 29 Nov 2021 16:05:28 GMT

When negative self-talk gets going, it’s so loud in your mind that reason and logic are drowned out. These mental exercises explore ways to shift focus from bad thoughts and appreciate your achievements and strengths. Visit AARP® Staying Sharp® and take a brain health challenge.

Re: Shut Down the Mean Voice Inside Your Head

rgjr979 — Thu, 16 Dec 2021 02:01:42 GMT

First I have to actually realize that negative self-talk is happening. Upon realization, I will focus on my breathing as a way of refocusing my attention away from the current negative self-talk state. I learned how to do this many years ago reading a book entitled "Taming your Gremlins".

Re: Shut Down the Mean Voice Inside Your Head

SarahL274090 — Thu, 16 Dec 2021 02:41:51 GMT

SMILE!!! It shifts your focus; you will feel it, too. Try it and see for yourself............

Re: Shut Down the Mean Voice Inside Your Head

RosieBehr — Thu, 16 Dec 2021 10:25:21 GMT

I say to my mind, "Thank you for that thought - I know you're trying to be helpful. But - it's not helpful, so no thanks. "

Re: Shut Down the Mean Voice Inside Your Head

AARPRachelA — Thu, 16 Dec 2021 16:07:04 GMT

I'm in the same boat @rgjr979 - the first step for me is realizing the negative self-talk is happening. Thanks for the book recommendation!

Re: Shut Down the Mean Voice Inside Your Head

AARPRachelA — Thu, 16 Dec 2021 16:07:21 GMT

😁

Re: Shut Down the Mean Voice Inside Your Head

AARPRachelA — Thu, 16 Dec 2021 16:08:05 GMT

I love telling my mind "no." Sometimes I even have to say it out loud.

Re: Shut Down the Mean Voice Inside Your Head

sunrisewinesalon — Fri, 31 Dec 2021 23:19:00 GMT

I have an expression I've been using for at least 20 years to redirect my thoughts from things as diverse as a family argument to an annoying commercial jingle: "For the benefit of all beings."

I have a simple melody for it that helps to wipe out music I'm sick of, but usually I just recite it - silently or aloud (in the car, for example).

For the first 2 or 3 years it was a conscious choice I had to make to change the direction of my thoughts, but ever since, it's pretty much automatic. It's a little bit prayer, a little bit mantra, a little bit mission statement, a little bit wrist-slap, a little bit dzzzzzzt! but it's never without intention.

Re: Shut Down the Mean Voice Inside Your Head

gauss — Sat, 01 Jan 2022 13:06:57 GMT

Many might be taken askance at the likelihood that the "voices" are sometimes spiritual entities. Dealing with "them" is still the same though. Don't tolerate negative ideas. The longer you let things go...the worse the issue. The old saw of "walk on the sunny side of the street" still applies. If you succumb to "depression"...you are digging a hole that you will later need to dig out of. Some get into a sort of sarcastic mood where they think that endorsing the negative side will make them some points or whatever...but guess what...nobody cares. You do need to stay on top of things "in the moment" though...negative "ideas" are not much affected by platitudes or insults. Action is the key.

Re: Shut Down the Mean Voice Inside Your Head

PaulH627938 — Sat, 01 Jan 2022 13:50:54 GMT

there are no ways to avoid negative words. sometimes, without thinking some words come out before you can stop them. every so often you recognize what is about to be said & you stop, a scenario: you could be siting reading a romance novel thinking happy thoghts when all of a sudden you move your arm & knock over a cup of coffee. without thinking you say (so & so). nobody can stop that. all you can do is pray & ask forgiveness.

Re: Shut Down the Mean Voice Inside Your Head

JohnN654254 — Sat, 01 Jan 2022 14:05:17 GMT

One thing that I find VERY HELPFUL is massage therapy. Christian therapeutic touch also does wonders here. In more severe cases, you may need 3-4 short (maybe 10 minutes) massages EACH WEEK for a few weeks to get things under control. I found that LONELINESS can exacerbate these thought patterns. Counseling may be in order in many cases here.

Re: Shut Down the Mean Voice Inside Your Head

2Papa — Sat, 01 Jan 2022 20:24:40 GMT

Always blame someone else, not yourself! This helps ward off depression.

Re: Shut Down the Mean Voice Inside Your Head

StevenA640120 — Sat, 01 Jan 2022 22:44:51 GMT

I have been meditating in the Shambhala Buddhist tradition for 20 years. One of the first things I learned was to be friendly to myself and to others. Whenever I notice negative self talk, I remind myself to not indulge by silently saying "thinking" to myself. The negative self talk is just thought. And thoughts come and go and I don't judge them.

Re: Shut Down the Mean Voice Inside Your Head

DebraW92828 — Sun, 02 Jan 2022 02:01:26 GMT

Thanks for all the good tips!😊

Re: Shut Down the Mean Voice Inside Your Head

AmeliaH696404 — Sun, 02 Jan 2022 03:16:22 GMT

There's a saying, "you can't stop vultures from flying over your head but you can stop them from laying eggs."

You have control over negative talk. I wrote a book called, "Mephibosheph Mentality" that teaches people to ward off negative talks in their heads. It's available on Amazon, https://www.amazon.com/author/ameliagaguharris

Re: Shut Down the Mean Voice Inside Your Head

suzzia — Sun, 02 Jan 2022 19:40:44 GMT

I add them to a list in the notes section on my phone titled "Worries". They lose their seriousness in print. Later, when I look at them the negative thoughts seem silly.

Re: Shut Down the Mean Voice Inside Your Head

RichL451798 — Tue, 04 Jan 2022 03:36:02 GMT

A technique I learned many years ago was developing a series of positive affirmations and repeating them at least 5 times a day. Generally there are two sets of affirmations - 1 about ourselves and the other about our work or home situation. Examples of the first are: I like myself, I am worthy; I never devalue myself through negative self criticism; I grow mentally and physically healthier every day. There are others you can develop.

In the second group are attitudes or abilities you wish to develop and incorporate into your daily life. Examples are: I see good things happening to me and my family; I handle challenges with discipline to create positive outcomes. Again, there are many others.

The point of all these affirmations is to reprogram your mind so that you can become more the person you would like to be. If you continue to tell yourself that you can reasonably do something, the more likely that you will achieve it.

Re: Shut Down the Mean Voice Inside Your Head

CharlesG123754 — Thu, 06 Jan 2022 00:07:59 GMT

As a member of WW a/k/a Weight Watchers, I discovered a comment from another member that I apply to myself when I get upset over something I did (or didn't) do. It goes like this: "Okay, you broke one egg...are you going to break the remaining 11 eggs, too?" The point? You made one mistake. Don't beat yourself over the head for it--move on...Hope this helps!

Re: Shut Down the Mean Voice Inside Your Head

jwarjwar — Thu, 06 Jan 2022 17:47:04 GMT

I enjoyed this article and especially the comments. I've synthesized the comments. I like being the master of my own boat, so now whenever I identify a negative thought (amazing how they flit in so often!), I identify that it's negative, then I stop it by also adding "at least it IS NOT WORDS OR ACTIONS." This adds an extra awareness protection and preventativeness. Peace ☮

Re: Shut Down the Mean Voice Inside Your Head

BettyS487482 — Thu, 06 Jan 2022 21:54:28 GMT

I set aside time every day for devotion and Bible study. I

hardly ever have a negative thought or attitude.