Negative Thinking and helping others

I writing a list of beliefs that I would like to change. They are all negative thoughts that I believe about myself. I was surprised by how many I came up with (9) and how almost everyone of them date back to childhood. Everytime that I think I have gotten my negative thinking to a low level, I seem to discover more squirrly beliefs. Will I ever be able to go through a whole week without my negative thinking rearing its ugly head? I did therapy a decade ago and have re-started therapy again. Why haven't I managed to get rid of more of my negative thinking?
As for helping others, I am studying to become an addiction counselor. However, I fear that my negative thinking will interfere with my ability to counsel others. (of course this is predicting the future which is a bad idea) But, I have been trying to stress myself into a mental disorder on this one and a few other things. T probably thinks I have succeeded on this account (Adjustment Disorder). So, I am wondering what you all think about all of this?

Hi. Since you've already got yer list of neggies, how's about making a side by side list of pozzies that cancel the neggies out. Tape the pozzies up and flush the neggies down.......

As for speed of recovery....... to each their own. Time is irrelevant when creating great works of art. I believe we are creating our beautiful selves with our healing. This site is full of beautiful people in process. In progress. One step at a time.Nobody can go faster than that.

AS for couseling, I prefer couselors who can relate from personal experience as opposed to those who haven't a clue about themselves. I expect you'd be a good and empathetic councelor. Hang in there. LOL

i am a substance abuse counselor and i have never had an abuse problem. HOWEVER, i live surrounded by alcoholics and addicts. i always drew from my experiences of watching them and also how it affected me. you will do fine. trust me. people who have been in the trenches are wonderful counselors. xoxox pat

I agree that you should write out some positives to balance it out. Maybe try to write ten positives so you have more good things than bad? And I saw on this really good program about depression and becoming a happier person and stuff that you should try to list 5 positive things at the end of every day. These positive things can be about anything, as long as there are at least 5 and they are all positive. Maybe you could consider that? Good luck!

One theory is that it takes 9 months to change a negative belief. I like HB/Tamzin's suggestion about 5 positives at the end of each day. I might try that myself.