How to stop thinking about something that's bothering you?

[caring__1]

Have you ever gone to eat at a restaurant and found the experience to be 100% positive or 100% negative? Probably not... there are always certain things that stand out in one direction or the other. It becomes your choice to focus on what is most important to you. You can focus on the amazing food, service, ambience or company, or you can focus on the dirty glasses, sticky floor or unflushed toilet. What you choose to focus on determines the experience you remember.

Whatever direction you focus is the direction you'll go. If you're critical of negative, you'll get more negative; if you're appreciative of positive, you'll get more positive. The brain doesn't differentiate between do and don't. If you keep telling yourself "Don't think about frogs, Don't think about frogs," all your brain hears is frogs, frogs, frogs. Focus on what you do want, not what you don't want.

Let's say there's a pothole in the street in front of your house. Every day, that pothole fills with trash. You don't like seeing the trash, so every day you go outside and clean the trash from the pothole. One day, the city comes by and repaves your street... No pothole... No trash. Negative is merely filler. If you don't fill your head with positive, it will fill with negative.

Identify your long-term objectives in life and then focus on aspects within your control right now that will take you in that direction. You may choose to acquire a skill or help others less fortunate than you. You could be a mentor to someone or volunteer to build or repair a home or help animals at the local shelter. By doing something positive, you're paving the street and eliminating the potholes that collect trash.

[gangster123]

I think you should think about what other things you wanted to do.. or interests you... look at your FB - find someone in your friends whom you did chat long ago abc you feel was a good friend.. talk to one or two old friends everyday... and go out for a long walk or drive with your soulmate, besties, siblings, cousin- whatever you feel to not get distracted of things you don’t want to think of...

[AutophileAngel]

Personally, it helps talking with someone I fully trust. A full on venting, complaining, crying, letting all out. And if you don’t feel comfortable doing that, you can just write about it somewhere. Expressing your emotions is healthy and helps on getting shit out of your head.
Another thing I do, is think that thinking about something thats bothering me is doing nothing good nor helping me in any way, so I take notes on how can I solve the problem, when you do something about it, you relieve yourself mentally because you feel like you’re handling it and feel more confident. I would also recommend meditation, a 40 min walk, taking a hot bath while watching your favourite movie and have a glass of wine (if you’re of age ofc). Hope this helps

[Secret6620]

Distractions will definitely be helpful. Either exercising, reading, or even a little spa day at home can be a GREAT way to take your mind off of the things that are bothering you. Hope this helps. And I hope whatever is bothering you, won't continue to be a nuisance.

Happy New Years 🎉

[douchecannoue]

Do something you hate like have a cold shower. Go on a huge long walk do something you hate so much that all you can focus on is how much you hate what your doing right now lol we always focus on negativity more than positivity so just add to the negativity lmao (but pls dont do anything dangerous or harmful)

[Denial1984]

Thinking is a tool we humans have at our disposal to solve challenges in our environment.

If something is bothering you, either thinking about it can help you deal with it, or thinking about it is unhelpful. In which case, you can let it be and do something else.

[chriscdi]

i dont believe you can missy or at least not fully but you can distract yourself for a bit but at some point you'll think of it

[Avicenna]

Distract yourself. Only worry about things you can control or do something about.

[Wise4myage]

When it arises in your mind, learn to me mindful and pay no attention to that thought. Let it flow in one ear, and out the other. :)

[JohnO45]

Exercising is a great distraction.
Also binge watch a new Tv show.

[Boredom21]

The best thing to do is to keep yourself busy

[Anonymous]

masturbate sending nudes to a white guy as most Indian girls do here

[JohnSmityJohnson]

Learn a musical instrument