Let the ANTs March Away

When we feel anxious and fearful it is often difficult to move past the negative thoughts that we keep going over. These automatic negative thoughts, or ANTs, become a cycle that we get caught up in and when this happens we sometimes aren’t even able to notice that we’re stuck in a loop.

Thoughts attach quite readily to emotions and then affect our behaviours. This pattern can become so detrimental that we become paralyzed and unable to act. Often these thoughts are based on something that has already occurred and is unchangeable. Yet this triggering event keeps coming up, and our emotions respond each time, bringing fear, sorrow- whatever the case may be. Sometimes that leads us to act in ways that are incongruent with our values and our beliefs. Whenever we aren’t acting within our beliefs and values we create more internal conflict.

In order to move past this, we must first be able to recognize the thoughts. Breaking the cycle means shifting your concentration to more productive thoughts and activities. Depending on what the triggering event is, look it for answers as to how better to cope.

It can take expert help to see yourself through if the anxiety is particularly strong or long lasting. It’s important to find someone you trust and feel comfortable to work with.