Hi friends,
I hope you’re enjoying life wherever in the world you are.
It’s been pretty fun to see that over a third of my Patreon supporters are international. I’ve been getting approximately $10 pledges paid in SEK, Euros, CA, Pounds, HUF, AU, NOK, DKK, SGD.
Yes, I had to look up a few of those. It’s so amazing to receive worldwide support for writing.
Storytelling is indeed a human experience, regardless of the language or culture.
Thank you so much for your support!
For today’s excerpt – check out this deal on the 6-book Aftermath series Steph and I wrote:
Searching for Shelter Boxsets: $0.99 each. FREE in KU!
“The raging water lifted him up and threw him against the far wall. Pain exploded through his body. His eyes burned and as he opened his mouth to scream, his choking gasps were drowned instantly. The vindictive storm sucked him and the smashed remains of the research station out the gaping hole so fast it felt like the drop from the top of a roller coaster . . . into Alpha’s eyewall itself.”
And for a fast and simple mental health tip, you’ll need to grab a pen and paper and . . . follow the instructions below
Banish the negative thoughts with pen and paper:
Have you ever just felt down or anxious, ready to quit or sick of life? Worse, you have no idea why?
I have.
And it’s really hard to fight against a nebulous feeling you can’t find a logical reason for. Emotions aren’t easily dismissed by deciding they shouldn’t be there.
Instead, the first step is to figure out exactly what thoughts are swirling in your mind and causing the feelings. Only then can you turn them around and banish them.
This is the basis of Cognitive Behavior Therapy, a technique grounded in concrete techniques that help turn your thoughts and thus your emotions around.
Try this simple exercise.
Next time you’re in a funk, grab a pen and paper. Write down the following:
- The triggering event (it’s ok if you can’t think of one. Skip to step 2)
- What negative thoughts are running through your mind.
- Counter them with logic and why they’re ok, even if they’re true.
Now here’s where you might say – I’m not having any thoughts. I just feel bad.
Don’t quit. Keep digging and write something down, even if it’s something like:
“I feel bad all the time.”
or
“I hate my life”
Once you get a few, keep going. What exactly are you thinking that’s making you feel so bad. Add as many details as you can pull out of your mind.
“I’m just always stressed.”
“I don’t have any friends.”
“No one loves me.”
“My kids never listen to me”
“I’ll never get promoted.”
“No one likes me at work.”
“I’m a failure as a parent/child/spouse because . . . “
When you’re done, you’ll have a list of the exact culprits that have been hammering your emotions.
Turns out it’s not just some nebulous bad feeling, but specific thoughts and ideas you can pull out into the open and change.
The next step is to talk back to those thoughts: Why are they not true? And if they are true, why is it ok?
“I don’t have any friends”
is countered by:
“I do have an old high school friend I message”
and it’s ok if it’s true because:
“If I can figure out how to be happy on my own, I’ll attract more friends.”
“I’m a failure as a parent/child/spouse because . . . “
is countered by:
“I made school lunches for my kids on Tuesday”
“I told my spouse I appreciated them on Wednesday”
“I called my mom for Mother’s Day”
and it’s ok if I fail?
“Failing is part of life. It’s how we learn”
Are you thinking you can do this exercise in your head?
Don’t!
Pen and paper are essential to change the twisted thoughts from vague to concrete. Only then can you counter them. Not to mention holding a pen, writing, etc., pulls in more senses and helps you pin down the slippery thoughts.
Good luck!
Remember mental health is similar to physical health. You can’t eat a salad and exercise on Monday and expect to be good for the rest of your life. 😀
It takes long-term work.
And read a good book. It’s also great for mental health and relaxation!
— Misty 🙂
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