Your car makes a strange noise and you're sure the engine is shot and it will cost a fortune to fix. Even when someone else does something wrong you feel that you should be blamed. Your kid gets a lousy report card and you just know it's your fault because you're such a rotten mother. You think that something is wrong without any evidence. You're a worthwhile human being only if other people say so.
Modern psychotherapists agree.
How we think about our lives influences our feelings and our actions. Dwelling on negative thoughts accentuates feelings of depression and may worsen some of the chemical imbalance in the brain. Adapting a more positive attitude can actually help you to feel better. Try to notice situations that cause you to feel bad, such as talking with a difficult relative or reliving an unpleasant memory, and then change how you think about these events to reflect a more rational and upbeat attitude. With practice, you'll probably be able to identify a dysfunctional response and quickly adapt a healthier view.