Some of us might be more prone to catastrophizing or having bleak self-talk than others, but having this one thought often can bring even the most positive people down. If you don’t reframe negative thoughts, you could start to believe this thought and then others. And before you know it, that discouraging cycle is cycling, for sure.
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“This phrase reflects a constant state of discouragement, leading unhappy individuals to expect negative outcomes,” Dr. Dixon previously told Parade. “It reinforces a cycle of pessimism and hopelessness.”
Dr. Ramsey also noted this phrase and said that it might also establish a victim complex or mentality.
“This phrase also reflects a belief that life is fundamentally unfair or stacked against a person,” she shared at the time. “It’s often used when someone feels stuck or defeated.”
Why Psychologists Warn This Reinforces a Cycle of Pessimism
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We might all be our biggest judge, but when that inner critic becomes demeaning, discouraging and just downright mean, it’s hard to claw your way out of such a deep cycle of pessimism. Plus, you start to believe the bad things you think about yourself after a while. Again, those words are powerful, for better or worse.
She even pointed to research that showed “a positive mindset contributes not only to better mental and emotional health, but also to physical well-being.”
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You feel like no one ever listens to you, stemming from feeling lonely and misunderstood.You feel discouraged, leading to you feeling apathetic or like you just don’t care or shouldn’t even try.You might ask yourself, “Why does this always happen to me?” which adds to victimhood and self-pity, essentially fueling the negative self-talk loop even more. You often think, “I’m so tired of this,” about many things in your life (work, challenges at home, etc.), which keeps you stuck in that discomfort. You feel like you’re not meant to be happy, enjoy nice things or have wins.You simultaneously feel like you always mess everything up, while also thinking that the world is against you and you can never catch a break.You feel like others just don’t care about you.
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How To Break the Pessimistic Loop
As our psychologist experts said, if you have this thought, you might be in a downward spiral of hopelessness. You’re despondent, and therefore you’re not going to expect good things to come your way. So that’s why you think, “Oh, well, nothing ever works out for me anyway, so why would it now?”
A victim mindset or victim mentality—which leads someone to believe that the universe is out to get them and they have no power of their own to change their plight—might also contribute to feeling this way.
How do you stop a cycle of pessimistic thinking?
It’s always a good idea to seek out professional mental health services such as therapy when you’re feeling in a funk that doesn’t seem to go away. And you should especially see your therapist if you know or suspect you have a mental health issue or have gone through a traumatic of negative life-changing event. A therapist or psychiatrist will be able to help you work through any root causes and walk you through techniques to help your pessimistic thinking and overgeneralization.
One way to help that Dr. Slavens shared is to ask yourself, “What’s one small, simple thing I can do to feel better right now?”
She also noted that “unhappiness is often accompanied by a sense of helplessness,” which turns this question you’re asking yourself into a reminder that you have agency and power, “however small it may be.”
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Sources:
Dr. Patricia Dixon, psychologistDr. Kiki Ramsey, positive psychologist, executive coach, speaker and authorDr. Caitlin Slavens, registered psychologist and the co-founder and clinic owner of Couples to Cradles (and one half of the popular social media account, MamaPsychologists)Hence then, the article about avoid using this phrase that reinforces a cycle of pessimism psychologists warn was published today ( ) and is available on Parade ( Saudi Arabia ) The editorial team at PressBee has edited and verified it, and it may have been modified, fully republished, or quoted. You can read and follow the updates of this news or article from its original source.
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