how to protect myself from negative thoughts?
365042
Pray and also pay attention to the things that lead you to think that way.  Like, maybe when you're with certain people or if you watch a certain TV program or if you start thinking about one thing it leads you to another.  It's all part of self-discipline.  \n\nTheoretically, some people think we should be able to do anything and still have control over our thoughts, but if that were the case we'd be perfect.  The most important thing is knowing what leads you to loftiness or to abasement.  If you know that, you can take much better care of yourself in every way.  \n\nAlso, relax and take time for yourself doing things just for fun and for no other reason.  Go to the lake or the park or go see a play with some friends.  Sometimes we get so tired of life because we let it run us ragged.  Take a break and enjoy it! :o) Good luck!
1124781
Try Confidence Club.com, the cds they sell may be useful, either that or try a confidence coach, maybe even some counselling.  I know exactly how you feel and I have tried all the "positive thinking" techniques but sometimes you do need a little help.
643238
Try putting post it notes around your house that you'll read. On these notes, put positive things about yourself. Start telling yourself when you wake up and before bed that you are a wonderful, smart person and you deserve happiness. The mind is a powerful thing. If you believe it, then its reality. So constantly telling yourself positive things should help give your self-esteem a boost. On another note, don't keep people around you that are negative. Start trying to find a silver lining in everything. examples...\nYour car won't start that morning...at least it failed at home, and not while you were out and about!\nIts raining on a day you planned outside activities...gives you a chance to read a good book or see a movie.\nA person you love died....at least they are no longer in pain.\nA person you really liked dumped you...better to know now than before marriage and a painful divorce.\n If you wake up every morning and try to be a confident, happy, positive person, one day you'll wake up and no longer be trying. It'll just come naturally. Its all about what you want, and how hard you are willing to work for it. And not letting people take your power from you. Others can only make you sad or upset if YOU allow them to. Life is all about how you spin it.
671092
I take several deep breaths with positive thoughts attached to them.  If I am having a really bad day, I will take a few minutes to breathe and think "It's ok.  Things happen which I cannot control."  If I am having a normal day, I will try to remember to look at things or experience things that make me happy.
1048286
It is definitely dangerous to constantly have these thought.  If you are having daily stresses that cause you to think these things, you need to relieve some of the stress in your life. Look around you and see what you can change, eliminate, to destress yourself. Also, with anxiety and depression, see your physician ASAP. There are many different medicines to help with that. If you get on antidepressants, you will also lose the suicidal tendencies and thoughts.  They will also help you not to be afraid of life. I think the depression and anxiety combined is your problem. Seek help immediately before you ruin your life and those who love you's life.
78583
Exercise helps, deep breathing, listening to soothing music, prayer.  If the stress is causing you serious anxiety then you can talk to your doctor and they can prescribe an anti-anxiety medication such as ativan.\n\nOne thing I've found to be the most helpful for me is to monitor my self-talk.  When I have a negative thought, I try to analyze how realistic or rational it really is and then replace it with a more positive and realistic thought.
630612
Don't go for any medication cos that will just mess up with your body. Think positively, act positively. Take deep breath, exhale slowly before you do anything. Negative thoughts can ruin your day and the people around you. Most of these negative thoughts are your beliefs and it will bring your morale down, and ultimately make you feel edgy and impatient.
33358
I know I do not have all the answers that you need. But I hope that somehow my ideas would help.\n\nLoneliness is all in the mind. We can choose to be lonely or otherwise. Instead of sulking in a corner thinking of life's myseries and heartaches, why not boost your self esteem by thinking about the good things that happened to you  (and around you) and the good things that you expect to happen.\n\nGo out with friends and amuse yourself. Talk to people whom you trust and tell them about what's bothering you. Or get away for a while, alone - commune with nature, meditate, talk to God (or whoever you believe is the highest being). You'll realize that there are still beautiful things to be thankful for. Afterall, problems are there to be faced head on. \n\nDo not live with loneliness. Deal with it. Instead of living with it, come out a winner over your problems/frustrations or whatever causes this feeling of loneliness. You should not allow problems/negative ideas influence your life and take away the happiness that you deserve. You should take control.
864744
you might benefit from cognitive behavioural therapy. talk to your doc and he should be able to refer you to one. \n\nit just helps you to change the way you look at a negative thought, and think through some other more positive thoughts. you could try it for yourself.\n\nwrite down a situation then how you felt about it. you can then try to write three alternatives that are more positive.\n\nfor eg, what i did, was write that in a meeting i thought that some of the others looked at me as though they hated me. to this my  resonses could have been,\ndont they always look like that? and yes they do with others as well as me!\n\nthey may well hate each other, and i have misinterpreted the atmosphere to be my fault!\n\nand so on... life is too short to worry about these things, try to be positive in the face of adversity even though its so  hard and you will find it gets easier.\n\ngood luck my friend..x
471359
Stop worrying about what other people think. Act on things and impulses you feel when they pop up, not after you've thought all the fun out of them. There's a good start.
402091
Control comes from between our ears! Use your mind properly and soooo many phobias/addictions will go away. YOU are responsible for your own thoughts. Take control of them and direct them in a positive way.
1027076
That is so true!\nSome people always seem to have good things happen to them and  they always seem happy.  Try this, start your day on a great note and when something negative happens, put it aside and worry about it later, bad things ALWAYS wait.  Just keep track of the good things each day and soon your list will get longer and longer.  Your bad vibes will soon get smothered and you won't need to even think about them!  Maybe that is how some people seem to be happy all the time.  I think I'm gonna take my own advice, starting today.
887552
Method. Do it by example, not by words. You can cancel any negative thought from someone else by the way you respond. Actions speak louder than words. It is hard to argue with someone who is doing something positive. Fewer words and more positive actions. Do it by example. Be an example of what you want to see happening with this person. The negative thing is just a thought, after all, and actions usually can override thoughts. Use any action you can to cancel the negative thoughts as they arise. I know this all sounds very superficial, but people frankly get all bogged down in talking and thinking in negative ways and the only way to rock their world (?) is to bombard them with positive choices, options and actions.  - C.
1007015
Don't put yourself in situations you know aren't beneficial to you. In example: being around people whom you have to defend yourself to. If you have to be in those situations, find a focal point. Take deep breaths and not let them know they are getting to you. Think of someone you admire dearly and happy memories they bring you and whatever is going on wont phase you. It works.
641523
learn 2 compartmentalize ur emotions.u have 2 learn how 2 keep those emotions down.when u start 2 think about it stop.with practice it becomes easier.distract urself with the important stuff n just make urself stop thinking about ur problem. but also give urself times of the day when it is alright 2 think about them 2 help resolve them.
59982
Be courageous.  Don't waste time caring what other people think of you, concentrate on what you think of yourself.  Believe in something bigger than yourself, and understand that one day we will all have to answer for our choices.  Be kind.  Laugh.  Give yourself permission to love with your whole heart.  Thank God everyday.
293553
To say you should start by not being negative about what you are saying, may seem obvious, yet I've seen many negative things listed nonetheless in answer to your question.\n\nLet me give you examples, it may be simpler.\n\nNegatives is all that says "NO", as well as all that is saddening, frightening, depressing.\n\nYou do not go and tell yourself it could be worse, when you are having a bad day; that would be bad enough on an ok day, but in one you are feeling low, telling yourself you could have a worse day than that is NEGATIVE.\n\nTelling yourself tomorrow/someday is going to be better, is positive.\n\nIt's the old adage: the difference between people who always see the glass half full (positive people) and those who always see it half-empty (negative people).\n\nWhen you think negatively, correct yourself and say " ooops, I meant [... adding the correct way of wording it out positively].\n\nSimple tricks work too.\n\nYou stop yourself when you are starting to feel down or are having a very bad day.\nYou then breath out extremely long and slowly, being very aware of what you are doing. Breath out until you need and catch your breath again. Then breath in quite slowly. And breath out again very slowly for as long as you can without breathing in. Then in and out again slowly. The slower and longer you can breath out, the clearer and more positive you will be feeling. It will not be enough to make the day suddenly bright. But it will be enough for you to brake free from a pattern and some immediate stress, and start acting positively about it.\n\nDo not ramble over what's happened today, not until you feel you are having a good day instead, then you could chance it. When you are having a very bad day or are feeling really low, you can not be sure that looking over what went wrong to find something good in it will work out the way you expected it. You are more likely to get further depressed. Instead think about good things you still have time for today, or will have time for tomorrow/at the weekend/next week/during your next holidays....\n\nOnce you are more used to catching yourself before you go too low, you can pick up what went wrong at that very moment, and instead of feeling depressed or angered about it, look positively at it and think of what you can do to better that next time such a situation arises.\nDo not tell yourself you could have avoided making a mess of it by doing this or that. That's negative, even if to use it for a better go next time around. What you should be telling yourself instead is: should such a situation arise, what can I do to get it right?\n\nDo you see the difference? You do not linger on the fact that you got something wrong (even if to say you could do it better some other time), for that is reminded your subconscious that you are capable of doing the worse for yourself. When you are having a bad day, that's the very last thing you need and hammer in, right?  So instead of telling yourself that you are a failure, directly or indirectly, tell yourself you are someone who can and will handle any such situation that comes up in the future.\n\nIf you are having a really bad day, you don't want half-positive things, for your mind will already making you feel quite negative about yourself, and so a fully positive thing, will only have a mild positive balm to it, what would a half-positive one have? In psychology, it has a negative effect, and a negative thinking has a disastrous effect. So be one step ahead in positivity.\n\nOn a good day though, if something reminds you of a failure, be that truthful instead and admit that you made a mistake in dealing with something, but that this was how one learns about life, and that it means in the future you will be doing the right thing. Again do not tell yourself that in the future you will not be doing the wrong thing again. Instead tell yourself that in the future you will be doing the right thing.\n\nIt may only