Help with the cycle of negative thoughts

Hi @May_ 

Yes I was seeing a counselor, but it got to a point where I wasn't feeling comfortable anymore. When I told them about the assault, I felt like it wasn't taken seriously. So I haven't gone to a session since late last year. At this point I don't think I'm ready to find a new counselor. 

@KiKi_19 that must have been so difficult for you to finally reach out and have someone not take it seriously enough. Unfortunately counsellors are just humans and sometimes make mistakes. I'm so sorry they didn't take it seriously. Have you found any of the things they suggested with reframing the negative thoughts helpful?

1800 RESPECT is a counselling support service that specialise in sexual assault and family violence. Do you think contacting them at some point would be helpful for you?

@May_

Thank you for understanding. Yes, sometimes I'm able to replace my negative thoughts with more positive ones. But at this point I've been overwhelmed with so many thoughts that I can't get a handle on them.

I think I might have made some initial contact with someone from 1800 RESPECT (via email) but I honestly can't remember what happened... It might have been when my study was full-on and I couldn't keep track of my schedule.

I do want to find help, as I feel the issues I mentioned from my past still have a hold on me.

Sorry I edited to add your tag @May_

Financially and mental health-wise, I know that emailing and online messaging are the best options for me right now. I can't really afford the long trip to face-to-face counseling. So I think to start with I want to try and get in contact with 1800 RESPECT and possibly speak to a counselor online.

I know I can't ask for direct help or solely rely on RO for help, but are there any strategies for tackling thoughts that I could try in the short-term?

Hey @KiKi_19, thanks for sharing your story and experience with us. @May_ has given you some great support and I'm really glad to hear that you want to try and get in contact with 1800RESPECT. Please let us know how that goes.

It sounds like you have had a lot of not so great things happen to you and I think it's great that you have been able to identify and reflect on how these experience have impacted your thought processes, it's really quite amazing.

There are a few different strategies for tackling thoughts and different people on here might have different recommendations so my advice is to try them all and figure out what works for you. Sometimes when we are overwhelmed and thoughts are racing it can help to try and quiet down the mind, I find listening to a specific kind of music or meditating helps me. There are a few really good meditation apps that you can access any time. Like everything meditating is a long term thing and you have to do it for a while to really get the benefits.

You mentioned that you've tried replacing your negative thoughts with what you know is true - how have you done this? Do you write it down or say it in your head? 

Thanks @Stealth_ninja

I agree with you on the music idea. It's been an important part of my life in the past and I hope to try and get back into playing and listening to it someday.

I've used an app called Calm before, which helped me to sleep better and I'm sure I could try it out during the day as well.

Sometimes I'd write down the negative thoughts and then write down a thought that disputes the negative, or something that looks at it in a slightly better light.

I appreciate your support and I'll continue trying to find what works for me. 

hi @KiKi_19 im wondering how your going?

have you thought about thought challanging? i can help you with that if you like?