'Sticky thinking' hampers decisions in depression

(www.bps.org.uk)

114 points domofutu | 1 comments | 23 Jun 25 21:01 UTC | HN request time: 0.21s | source

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worldsayshi ◴[26 Jun 25 13:03 UTC] No.44387032[source]▶

>>44360038 (OP) #

Any anecdata on successful ways to shed sticky thoughts once depression has been (mostly) beaten?

replies(6): >>44387039 #>>44387139 #>>44387162 #>>44387216 #>>44387911 #>>44388703 #

whatevsmate ◴[26 Jun 25 13:21 UTC] No.44387162[source]▶

>>44387032 #

Close your eyes. Imagine a black tunnel that you are floating through. Every time a thought pops up, paint it black in that tunnel and then float on past it. That includes the thoughts "this tunnel is black" or anything related to your current experience. Just paint it over and float on again.

I self-taught this method at a young age and have picked up a few other "quiet mind" techniques over the years that do similar-ish things. The principle, from my pov, is to basically sit with it and proactively teach your brain to stfu, one thought at a time.

replies(1): >>44387337 #

1. oasisaimlessly ◴[26 Jun 25 13:43 UTC] No.44387337[source]▶

>>44387162 #

I have a very similar technique that I made up:

Close your eyes. For every thought you have, imagine it to be a soap bubble, floating upwards. After a few seconds of floating upwards, it pops and is gone.

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