It’s easy to fall into negative self-talk. As a crisis hotline counselor and former Sexual Assault Specialist, it’s something I see all of the time! I can’t begin to list the number of times a person has told me, “I don’t feel worthy,” or “I hate myself.”
While it’s normal to feel this way some of the time, excessive cases of negative self-talk can be a sign of depression. It might be worth talking to a counselor about! In the meantime, I’ve listed some things you can do that might help you feel better.
- Recognize the thoughts are negative! It can be easy to accept your thoughts as truth, but it’s important to question those beliefs.
- Try to distract yourself with something you love! Can you go for a walk, talk to a friend, listen to music?
- Talk to someone! I mentioned talking to a friend earlier – I’m serious! Talk to a friend, or a loved one. If there’s no one there, then consider journaling your thoughts. Hate to write? Talk to your pet!
- Get a counselor! You can visit OpenCounseling.com or BetterHelp.com to see different affordable and often virtual options.
- Need help now? Consider visiting a hotline. I’m on Crisis Textline, so I’m biased… there’s also IMAlive.org, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, and the more informal 7 Cups of Tea.
“Studies show that optimism and pessimism can impact your health and well-being. Positive thinking, which is associated with optimism, plays a significant role in managing stress effectively, according to the Mayo Clinic.” They recommend getting exercise, eating as healthily as possible, and trying to sleep well in order to improve self-talk.
You deserve to feel better. You’re worthy of help. Please don’t forget that.
