Thought stopping
Thought stopping is a controversial cognitive intervention technique prescribed by therapists (psychologists and psychiatrists) with the goal of interrupting and removing problematic recurring thought patterns. The problem thought could be a worry, an obsession, an urge, an unwanted habit, etc. One approach is to command, yell, or mind scream "Stop!" whenever the unwanted thought recurs, and then think of a more positive or productive thought to replace it with. Another technique is to wear a rubber band on the wrist which the patient snaps to punish himself whenever the unwanted thought surfaces. Dismissing the thought at will as soon as it is noticed is another method.
See also
References
- What is Thought Stopping?, Psychology Dictionary
- Robert L. Leahy PhD., Why Thought Stopping Doesn't Work, Psychology Today, 9 July 2010
External links
- Federal Occupational Health, Thought Stopping: An Antidote for Stress
- Professor William Mikulas, University of West Florida, Behavior Modification, Chapter Nine, Cognitions - see the section on thought stopping
- Leahy, Robert L. Psychology Today, Anxiety Files: Why Thought Stopping Doesn't Work. Blog post dated 2010-07-09.
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