The impact of our thoughts on our brain chemistry and physiology is profound. The brain’s response to various situations is programmed, resulting in specific chemical reactions that influence the body’s responses. For instance, when you perceive danger, your brain quickly reacts, preparing your body to either fight or flee. Here are five specific ways negativity can affect your brain and body:
- Decreased Cognitive Functioning: Negative thinking triggers the limbic system (the more primitive part of the brain), diverting energy from the prefrontal cortex, which is responsible for cognitive functions and organization. This diversion impairs clear thinking. Engaging in cognitively challenging tasks, like puzzles or word games, can help reallocate resources to the prefrontal cortex, improving clarity of thought.
- Immune System Suppression: Persistent negative thinking puts the brain and body on high alert, overusing energy that would otherwise support the immune system. Chronic stress is well-documented to weaken immune defences, making individuals more susceptible to illness.
- Physical Symptoms of Anxiety: Thoughts conveying danger signal the brain to prepare the body for fight or flight, causing physical symptoms such as a racing heart, rapid breathing, and other signs of panic. This is a direct result of the brain’s interpretation of negative thoughts.
- Rewiring of Associations: Recurrent negative thinking can lead to the brain forming strong negative associations with specific cues, such as situations or people. These associations become automatic, triggering immediate negative responses when encountered.
- Increased Risk of Stroke: Anger and hostility, types of negative emotions, have been linked to a higher risk of stroke. A 2014 study by Everson et al., published in the journal Stroke, found that these emotions activate the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, the body’s stress response system, leading to changes in neurological and endocrine systems that increase stroke risk.
Counteracting Negativity
Suppressing negative thoughts is counterproductive and can intensify them. Instead, adopt a more accepting approach to your thoughts:
- Acknowledge your thoughts (“There’s that thought again”).
- Label them (“I am having the thought that…”).
- Choose not to engage with them (“This is not helpful for me to think about right now”).
- Challenge them (“What is the evidence for and against this?”).
- Explore mindfulness techniques.
Practices like meditation and mindfulness help quiet the mind and body, offering numerous health benefits. NLP , Hypnotherapy and Strategic Psychotherapy teach you to relate to your thoughts differently and challenge them effectively. Therapists trained in these methods can guide you in finding the most suitable techniques for your needs.
Key Takeaways
- Negative thoughts can impair cognitive function, weaken the immune system, cause anxiety, form negative associations, and increase stroke risk.
- Instead of suppressing negative thoughts, acknowledge and challenge them using mindfulness and CBT techniques.
- Practices like meditation and mindfulness can counteract the physical stress responses prompted by negativity.
For further reading on the study mentioned: Everson et al. 2014
https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/full/10.1161/STROKEAHA.114.004815
https://pvdpsych.com/5-ways-that-negativity-affects-brain-chemistry-and-what-to-do/
