deepstash
Beta
Deepstash brings you key ideas from the most inspiring articles like this one:
Read more efficiently
Save what inspires you
Remember anything
How to stop catastrophising - an expert's guide
3
Key Ideas
Save all ideas
Catastrophisers
They tend to be fairly anxious people and on hearing uncertain news, they imagine the worst possible outcome. If a catastrophiser is told something inconclusive, they look for a way to feel in control again immediately. They learn to choose the worst possible outcome because it allows for the greatest sense of relief when they are reassured.
23 SAVES
67 READS
External seeking behaviour
Catastrophisers rush to external sources to calm themselves down: matching symptoms online to obtain a diagnosis and treatment options; asking a professional to tell them that they will survive etc. Once they are reassured, they feel better – in psychological jargon, they have “rewarded” this seeking behaviour.
But this way to alleviate anxiety offers only temporary relief.
21 SAVES
44 READS
How to stop catastrophising
- Look for enjoyable ways to challenge yourself and use your energy more positively;
- Take control. Establish a regular “worry time”;
- Ask yourself what you would advise your best friend to do about each concern, and take that action;
- Learn to self-soothe.
23 SAVES
47 READS
SIMILAR ARTICLES & IDEAS:
4
Key Ideas
Understand the process
There has recently been an important change in the way clinical psychology is being handled.
Nowadays, it can be clearly seen that what is the most important is the understanding o...
Process Based Therapy
Process Based Therapy bases itself on Network Science, which emphasis the importance of networks, nodes and possible barriers to change in order to get a better understanding of the mental illnesses.
Process Based Therapy implies the belief that variation and flexibility are the elements that influence the most your recovery.
Extended Evolutionary Meta Model
This Meta Model refers to the idea according to which dynamic and complex networks change or shift dramatically rather than gradually.
When this occurs, the so-called Process Based Therapy aims to turn the network from maladaptive to adaptive while using strategies such as exposure or mindfulness.
3
Key Ideas
Resilience During A Global Crisis
- Resilience is the ability to handle and recover from stressful situations and crises. It is not simply coping up with adversity, but to experience growth and flowering, find...
Resilience: Psychological Facts
- Resilience comes automatically to most of us.
- It is part of a set of skills and behaviours and not a standalone concept.
- Resilience is not an individual trait or quality, but dependent on many contextual factors like one’s upbringing, social factors and health conditions.
- It is not a static concept but a flowing, dynamic process based on our life cycle and external conditions.
- Resilience does not make a person a superhuman being, and the journey of suffering, misery and pain has to be undertaken.
- Positivity is one-sided, and running away from negativity does not build resilience.
How To Be Resilient
- Don’t isolate yourself, but connect with others, and nurture your relationships. One can reach out to others, play and have fun by joining online or offline groups, or while going for a morning walk. One need not wait for a pandemic.
- Accept what is happening to you(and others) and allow it to exist, while taking affirmative action towards stuff that is in your control.
- Don’t avoid discomfort, but move towards it occasionally. It’s not always about comfort and convenience.
- Distance yourself from your thoughts by practicing gratitude journaling, or simply writing on paper what is on your mind.
- Find growth opportunities in adverse situations by reframing them as a new challenge, something known as Cognitive Reframing.
6
Key Ideas
The ability to be a good listener
The idea of being a good listener is almost a cliche. Yet, most of us are terrible at it.
Becoming a good listener is not that difficult if you know where to start and are ...
Focus on the person, not the problem
Our ability to solve problems is helpful in life, but it is the wrong thing to do in situations when people simply want to be heard, understood, and feel connected.
When someone is scared, angry, depressed, or just upset, they don't want to feel like something is wrong with them. When you give unsolicited advice to someone who is struggling, you make them feel like a problem. Give advice when someone asks for it, otherwise, hold off on your wisdom and instead focus on being present.
Unsing open-ended questions
Being a good listener is not about getting the facts about what made them upset. It is to be supportive, offer encouragement, and empathize.
Ask open-ended questions to communicate that you're interested in them. Avoid questions beginning with 'Why' and use 'What' or 'How' instead. Generic open-ended questions that work well are:
- What was that like for you?
- Can you tell me more about that?
- How did you feel about that?
- What was going through your mind?