New research suggests that suppressing negative thoughts may actually improve mental health, contradicting the commonly held belief that it is better to confront and process these thoughts. A study conducted by cognitive neuroscientist Michael Anderson at the University of Cambridge found that training the brain to block out negative thoughts seemed to reduce symptoms of anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The study involved 120 adults from 16 countries who were asked to list their fears, hopes, and neutral events, and then instructed to suppress negative thoughts associated with their fears. The results showed that participants who blocked out negative thoughts reported less vivid fears and improved mental health outcomes compared to those who suppressed neutral thoughts. These findings suggest that suppressing negative thoughts could be an effective tool in treating mental health issues such as anxiety, depression, and PTSD.
Study Overview
In this comprehensive study, the research findings on suppressing negative thoughts and their implications for mental health are explored. The study challenges the common belief that suppressing negative thoughts has a negative impact on mental health and proposes that it may actually improve symptoms of anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Methodology
The study involved 120 adults from 16 countries who were selected as participants. They were asked to list 20 fears about future events, 20 hopes, and 36 neutral events. The fears had to be specific and recurring thoughts that caused distress. Each participant was then given a word that represented each type of event. Half of the participants were instructed to stare at their negative words without letting their minds wander into more distressing thoughts, while the other half did the same with their neutral words. This exercise was repeated 12 times a day for three days. Data on the participants’ mental health outcomes were collected throughout the study.
Training the Brain to Block Out Negative Thoughts
The training exercise consisted of staring at the word representing a negative thought without allowing any further distressing thoughts to intrude. Participants were specifically instructed not to distract themselves or think about unrelated things. The exercise was repeated multiple times a day for three days, aimed at teaching the individuals to suppress negative thoughts effectively.
Positive Mental Health Outcomes
The study found that participants who suppressed negative thoughts reported a reduction in anxiety symptoms and an overall improvement in negative mental health. Individuals with high levels of anxiety saw a 44% decrease in self-reported worries. Participants with post-traumatic stress experienced a 16% reduction in overall negative mental health and a nearly 10% increase in positive mental health. Interestingly, no participants reported an increase in negative symptoms as a result of the intervention.
Long-Term Effects
The study demonstrated that individuals who learned and practiced thought suppression techniques continued to use them after the study ended. These participants reported that their fears were less vivid and that their mental health had improved. Furthermore, there was no evidence of the participants’ fears bouncing back or becoming more intense over time. The ability to effectively suppress negative thoughts may, therefore, prevent the worsening of mental health issues.
Comparison to Traditional Approaches
While talking through negative thoughts and emotions has long been a common approach in therapy, the study challenges the prevailing theories of Sigmund Freud and Daniel Wegner. Freud’s theory of repression suggests that suppressing thoughts only leads to their indirect influence on mental health. Wegner’s theory proposes that trying to avoid a thought often backfires, making the thought more pervasive. However, the study suggests that individuals can train their minds to shut off harmful thinking patterns, much like a baseball player can train to stop executing a swing.
Special Cases
The study recognizes that exposure therapy has shown effectiveness in reducing fear in individuals with phobias and PTSD. In controlled settings, exposing individuals to the object or activity they fear can help diminish that fear. However, individual preferences for processing negative thoughts may vary, and some individuals may benefit more from thought suppression techniques.
Implications for Therapy
The study highlights the consideration of thought suppression as a tool in therapy for individuals with anxiety, depression, and PTSD. By training individuals to effectively block out negative thoughts, the study suggests that they may be able to do so independently outside of therapy sessions.
Expert Perspectives
Jan Wessel, an associate professor of psychological and brain sciences, commented on the study’s findings with cautious optimism. While he recognizes the need for further research and cautions against immediate clinical applications, he finds the study’s results encouraging. The recognition of the potential benefits of training the brain to suppress negative thoughts opens up new possibilities for mental health treatment strategies.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the study’s findings challenge the widely-held belief that suppressing negative thoughts has a detrimental impact on mental health. The research suggests that training individuals to effectively block out negative thoughts may lead to a reduction in anxiety symptoms, improvement in overall negative mental health, and an increase in positive mental health. The study’s encouraging results have the potential to influence mental health treatment strategies and emphasize the need for further research in this area.
