Stress, Health & Your Brain: How to Distract and Disrupt Negative Thought Patterns

We all experience stress, it is a part of the human experience. While we cannot always control or eliminate the sources of stress in our lives, we do have the power to shift the way we relate to that stress. Our natural systems are set up to react to stressful situations in order to keep us safe, aware, and ready for action. Unfortunately, we often do this by ruminating on stressful situations, reinforcing our stress response, marinating ourselves in the hormones and chemicals that produce stress, and ultimately generating more stress in our system. I’m talking about limbic looping, or engaging endlessly in repetitive negative thought patterns. We can rewire this outdated and mostly ineffective protective mechanism by disrupting or distracting the patterned loops.

Here are some of my favorite methods for disruption and distraction of a limbic loop: 

• Mindfulness Practices, of which there are many options. Hard to implement? Use a meditation app, there are thousands!

• Breathing in the here and now is always a good go-to

• Count backwards by 3s from 100

• List your gratitudes

• Or your groceries

• Recall every kind of fruit or veg that you can

• Make up an alphabet games, so many options there, for example: Abundance, Beauty, Cheese, Delight, Enlightenment… you get the picture

• Play a board game, online if you’re alone 

• Do a math app

• Call a friend (no complaining, downloading, or commiserating though)

• Watch a funny show (no drama!)

• Look at uplifting images or photos

• Read a sweet, funny, or interesting book (nothing heavy unless it’s also deeply inspiring)

• Dance to your favorite song

• Laugh (fake it until it’s real)

… basically do ANYTHING to stop the loop.

You may find that some days you have to distract or disrupt all day long. Don’t worry, soon it will get easier. Negative neural pathways of suffering begin to atrophy out of neglect, by putting your attention elsewhere you create and strengthen positive neural pathways. 

The term neuroplasticity refers to the flexibility of brain wiring. It makes us both vulnerable and resilient at the same time, and it gives us the power and freedom to create more of the experiences we want to be having in the here and now. 

The next step is to focus on growing and strengthening your positive neural pathways, and do the deep work often required to heal the wounds that might make this step harder. I have built my practice around the concept of healing with neuroplasticity, it is by far the most effective approach I have tried, both personally and professionally. It is my sincere hope that this information serves your health and well being.

If you’d like more info… contact me for a free consultation.