One of the most valuable pieces of advice I was ever given on my mental health journey was this:
You are not your thoughts, you are the observer of your thoughts.
It really helped me to realise I can detach myself from the stories that pop into my head and keep me down when I don't feel my best. In fact, they aren't really even me. To help myself 'observe' my thoughts rather than go along with them, I named the voice Barbara. She's toxic, she's insecure, she's mean and she wants to drag you down the moment you're feeling weak.
So now whenever I catch myself caught up in anxious, unhealthy thoughts and worries I tell Barbara to go away. Out loud if I need to. I stop her in her tracks and tell her to shut up.
This might seem really trivial or silly to some, but it's a really helpful tactic for me to cope with my crippling anxiety.
Has anyone else tried something like this before? What are your tactics to quiet down the voice in your head?
Let's share 🙂
