In the intricate tapestry of our minds, thinking loops, often referred to as “stories,” play a significant role in shaping our emotional well-being. These loops are patterns of repetitive thoughts that can become entrenched in our mental landscape, influencing our feelings, behaviors, and overall mental health. While some thinking loops can be benign or even beneficial, maladaptive loops can trap us in cycles of negative thinking, leading to increased stress, anxiety, depression, and other symptoms of psychopathology.
Understanding Thinking Loops
Thinking loops are essentially sequences of thoughts that are self-reinforcing. They often begin with a trigger—a thought, memory, or external event—that sets off a chain of related thoughts. This can lead to rumination or worry, where the mind circles around the same themes, unable to break free. These loops are powered by underlying beliefs and assumptions, many of which may be maladaptive. For example, the belief that all thought processes are the same can lead individuals to treat automatic, intrusive thoughts with the same significance as more deliberate, reflective thinking, giving undue importance to fleeting, often irrational thoughts.
Another common maladaptive belief is that automatic thinking processes, such as those that occur spontaneously and without our conscious control, are the primary sources of distress. While it’s true that these thoughts can be distressing, it’s often our continuous maladaptive thinking patterns such as catastrophizing, worry and self-criticism —that maintain our distress, perpetuate negative thoughts and amplify our emotional response.
By targeting specific maladaptive beliefs and providing strategies to manage them, we can differentiate between different types of thinking processes and alter our engagement with unhelpful automatic thoughts. The understanding that not all thought processes are created equal teaches us to distinguish between ‘stories’—the narrative interpretations and elaborations we construct around our experiences—and the initial thought (and its trigger). This distinction is crucial because it allows us to recognize that although maladaptive thinking patterns may be initiated automatically, in order to be maintained they need our conscious, deliberate encouragement.
One of the key strategies is the intentional delay of engagement with automatic thoughts. By creating a temporal space between the occurrence of a thought and the response to it, you can break the immediate link between a trigger and a maladaptive thinking loop. This pause breaks the link between these two types of thinking (the automatic and more controlled) helping us to regain control over our thinking.
Real-World Application: An Example
Consider the case of Alex, who struggles with anxiety. Alex’s thinking loops often begin with the automatic thought, “they are so talented,” whenever in a social interaction. This thought triggers a cascade of fnegative predictions and self-criticisms, deepening Alex’s anxiety and reinforcing the belief in their own incompetence.
Using the thinking loops model, Alex learns to recognize the initial automatic thought as a cue for a potential thinking loop. Instead of immediately engaging with the thought and spiraling into self-criticism, Alex employs the delay tactic, taking a moment. This pause, gives Alex the chance to choose whether she prefers engaging with her self-critical thinking or continue focusing on the task at hand. Over time, with consistent practice, Alex begins to notice a shift. The automatic thoughts lose some of their immediate power to trigger distressing thinking loops, and Alex feels more in control, less anxious, and more capable of handling new tasks.
Here’s a table specifically summarizing Alex’s example from the article:
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Initial Problem | Alex experiences anxiety, triggered by automatic thoughts of self-doubt during social interactions. |
| Strategy Used | Alex employs a delay tactic, taking a moment before engaging with the automatic thought, allowing for a choice in response. |
| Outcome | Over time, Alex notices a decrease in the power of automatic thoughts to trigger thinking loops, reducing distress, and leading to increased control and reduced anxiety. |
Thinking loops are a fundamental aspect of our cognitive processes, but when they become maladaptive, they can lead to significant psychological distress. By addressing the underlying maladaptive beliefs that fuel these loops, using the thinking loops track can offer a path to breaking free from the grip of unhelpful thinking patterns. With each disrupted loop, there’s an opportunity for growth, resilience, and a more adaptive engagement with our thoughts and emotions, paving the way for improved mental health and well-being.