Lesson Five Automatic Negative thoughts, What is that? Many suffer with anger, unforgiveness, and bitterness, which deep seated, will go into depression to even suicidal thoughts. So if you struggle with depression and suicidal thoughts, I would suggest seeking medical attention. The experience of abortion thrusts one into post-partum which may produce many hormonal and chemical changes. You will go through a grief process after your abortion - most woman do. But I ask you, where does one go for healing? Most woman just think they are in a state of depression without mentioning the abortion to the medical doctor. Without a healing process for the abortion many suffer for years. So continue with both, and you will see God's healing power will lift your darkness. My depression and darkness was really deep for the first six months. I was fifteen - I learned to bury my emotions and learned to laugh on the outside, while I felt like I was dying on the inside. After the healing process and freedom, I learned what God thought of me. I countered my ANTS or automatic negative thoughts with the Word of God and challenged the automatic negative thoughts; slowly I worked my way out of that dark place in my life; but it took work and building myself up to overcome this, with God's help. A good first step is to read over the information and identify what your self-talk is telling you. Follow this lesson day by day and you will turn your life around. You may need medication to overcome your depression so seek medical attention too, but also work on your ANTS..... I believe when you find healing with this study, you may see that your depression lifts for you. I remember the day that it lifted I felt like a butterfly - so light with no cares in the world; it was the best feeling of my life. ANTS: Automatic Negative Thought System *Automatic Thoughts just seem to come into your mind without any effort. *Distorted Thoughts are always supported by the things you know to be true to you. *Unhelpful Thoughts keep you feeling depressed, and make it difficult to change. *Believable - You accept them as facts and do not question them. *Involuntary - You do not choose to have these negative thoughts, which are very difficult to stop. When your brain automatically thinks a negative thought, you believe it without even stopping to think. What does God say about this situation? Is this really true? This ANTS, automatic negative thought system is like multiple freeways built into your brain, which always assumes that this is how it is going to be without challenging the system. The Word tells us in 2 Corinthians 10:5 “ to take every thought captive.” You have thirty seconds every time you think a negative thought to redirect it in your brain. Can you change the direction of your thoughts? Sure you can. First, take every thought captive and then make a conscious effort to counter challenge what is the opposite of the automatic negative thought pattern. Example: ANT = I feel so worthless! - Take those negative thoughts captive: My worth is in Christ: He said that I am precious in His sight. I was created by Him. He loves me. He gives me worth. Your self-talk, reiterates the words spoken upon you as a child. “I am stupid or lazy. Nothing ever good comes my way.” When parents or teachers spoke this upon you over and over as a child, you internally absorbed their negative talk. You must obtain a different prospective for you to believe differently about yourself. Words have power! Spoken words seed negative thoughts in us; thus, to establish a Godly perspective of yourself, you must ask: What does God say about me? Is this really true? Will this take work? Oh yes, it will. Do we just settle on negative thoughts, ANTS? Find out what God thinks of this situation. Question your negative thoughts? If you want something new in your life, you have to do something you have never done before or do what you’re doing now, differently. Awareness is the first thing to recognize you have negative self-talks in your life. God is so amazing as He made our brains so that we can take our thoughts captive in the first thirty seconds, before we run on the ANTS of the brain. CHALLENGE YOUR ANTS: STOP AND ASK ONE OR ALL OF THESE QUESTIONS: 1. Are these really the true facts here? 2. Am I jumping to conclusions? 3. Am I blaming myself for something that is not really my fault? 4. Am I taking things way too personally? 5. Am I expecting myself to be perfect? 6. Am I overestimating the chance for disaster? 7. I am assuming I can do nothing to change my situation? 8. Am I trying to predict the future? 9. What does Jesus think about this situation? 10. Am I trusting God to help me to see things in His eyes? Keep a journal of the negative thoughts that enter into your thought process. Those that repeat over and over are the first ones that can have the potential to change. Find a scripture that will help you to overcome this thought process. Example: If fear plagues you counter it with: 2 Timothy 1:7 “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.” Speaking out loud will re-route your brain connection to the Truth of the Word. Keep in mind, this is a process and will take time; however, God is faithful to help you change. Say the truth until you believe it; eventually, you will say it because you believe it. Saying the truth before you believe it is not pretending is practicing. by Chip Judd Feel free to email me your ANTS that plague you... Keep in mind you are not alone we all deal with ANTS..... |
Feel Free to contact Margie at margieovermiller@yahoo.com I will get back with you as soon as possible. Blessings |