Thoughts affect feelings. Feelings are nothing but thoughts and CBT is the tool to help you. Okay, you can see a lot of what I'm telling you on this page. Please try to read it. It might put things into context but I understand you. I also believed the same, the difference between thoughts and feelings and the dark place that inhabit my mind, but if you change your thoughts, it will change your feelings and they will affect your thoughts and this is how you unravel this ocean of negativity and pain.