profile

Overflow by Craig Booker

Distorted Thinking

Published about 1 month agoΒ β€’Β 2 min read

Hello Reader,

Have you ever thought about how messed up our thoughts can be? One of the most intriguing ideas I have recently encountered is how someone's thoughts can be completely legitimate inside their head, but once they get written down or shared with others, they can transform into complete garbage.

When a thought is inside our head, we can believe it is completely legitimate. If we take a moment and write it down or tell someone about it, it changes. The interesting thing here to note is that nothing has changed about the idea. The only thing that changed is our view or perspective of the idea. Hopefully, this helps demonstrate the power of exercises that help us process our thoughts.

One of the exercises the Overflow Community did this past week was identifying three cognitive distortions we struggle with. We then discussed different aspects of these distortions to help us see the subtle truth in the lie and distinguish it from the lie we believe. This process is powerful! It helped me see something I hadn't seen before.

So what? Why does this matter?

If you are anything like me, you are tired of being a prisoner to your thoughts. You are tired of the same old, same old, feeling helpless and hopeless. Maybe you have discovered that medicine helps but is not enough to address your brain health challenges. While I am not a therapist, I do know that healing in my life has come through many layers.

Early in my journey, I thought that if I could find the right medicine, I would be back to my old self. Then, when I found a medicine that worked, it didn't solve everything. After several similar scenarios, I saw that recovery happens in layers. One of the most impactful ways to improve your brain health is by changing your thoughts.

What is your next step?

  1. Go through the application exercise on cognitive distortions.
  2. Share your answers to the cognitive distortion exercise with someone you trust.
  3. Join in on the Overflow Community Group. Meeting info is down below. πŸ‘‡

If you would like to go through this exercise, you can find it posted in the discussion space within the Overflow Community. Not a member of the community? Tap the button below to receive an invitation.

​

If you or someone you care about are experiencing depression or anxiety, please know you don’t have to face them alone.

Check out the Overflow Community by tapping "Join the Overflow Community " below. πŸ‘‡

​

​

(Note: After tapping the button, you will receive an email invitation with instructions and a link to join the community. If you have any questions, reply to this email.)

​

I'd love to hear how this applies to your life. Could you hit "Reply" and tell me about your story?

If you would like to read more about my story, check out this link.

-Craig Booker​

​

P.S. If you enjoy Overflow and want to support it, here are four ways!

PICK ONE right now before you forget:

1. Forward this newsletter to a friend with an invitation to subscribe right here.
2. Subscribe to the podcast Overflow with Craig Booker.
3. Join the community.​
4. Leave me a tip.​

​


​

NEW EPISODE!

#056: Call Out the Lies

Listen: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube.

​

Click or tap on "Listen Now" πŸ‘‡ to check out the latest episode.

​

​

​

Overflow by Craig Booker

Join a growing community learning about brain health and following Jesus.

Read more from Overflow by Craig Booker

Hello Reader, Have you ever been in a place where you couldn't face something? I βœ‹πŸ» surely have! Just this past week, I woke up like I usually do on a Tuesday. For some reason, a question came to mind. I do not recall why I started thinking about this question or how it came up, but it was there. A few minutes later, I began making a note on my phone. I knew this question might get lost in my morning routine, and I didn't want it to slip through my mind. After making a note of the question,...

5 days agoΒ β€’Β 2 min read

Hello Reader, There's an old saying that says, "Time heals all wounds." While time certainly plays a crucial role in our journey, it will not heal all wounds. We cannot experience a traumatic event, circumstances, or surroundings and sweep it under the rug, hoping for it to disappear. Returning to those feelings, we often find emotions as fresh and raw as the day we left them. In last week's exercise, community members created a timeline detailing the events and circumstances that helped...

13 days agoΒ β€’Β 2 min read

Hello Reader, I remember walking into my first session with a new psychologist. I was utterly overwhelmed with the reality of my condition. The weight of trying to white-knuckle my way through life had taken its toll. Things were not right in my world, and I had no idea where to begin. In the following visits, we would talk a lot about my past, my life growing up, and all of the stereotypical things a psychologist should talk about. What didn’t come up was how I was feeling at that moment. I...

18 days agoΒ β€’Β 2 min read
Share this post