In the silent corners of the mind, where thoughts multiply like wildfire, overthinking often becomes our greatest enemy. It creeps in quietly — turning small worries into overwhelming anxieties and ...

How do we control our own thoughts? originally appeared on Quora: the place to gain and share knowledge, empowering people to learn from others and better understand the world. Answer by Dr. Abbie ...

Have you ever had an unpleasant thought or image that seems to pop into your head out of nowhere? These unwanted mental visitors, also known as intrusive thoughts, can be disturbing, distressing and ...

In psychology, the “white bear” problem (also known as ironic process theory), says that attempts to suppress certain thoughts can actually increase their frequency. The idea was developed by Harvard ...

Sign up for CNN’s Stress, But Less newsletter. Our six-part mindfulness guide will inform and inspire you to reduce stress while learning how to harness it. In one ...

Previous entries of this blog have explored various aspects of understanding and coping with relationship obsessive-compulsive disorder (ROCD). A particularly challenging issue for clients with ROCD ...

Share on Pinterest Controlling unwanted thoughts can be difficult for many people. Alpgiray Kelem/Getty Images Most people experience unwanted thoughts from time to time. Some, known as intrusive ...

The question I’m asked most often is, “How can I stop my mind when it’s spinning out of control?” Our mind draws us in, often in an automatic, intense, steadfast way. Before we know it, we’re ...

When trying to avoid an unwanted thought, people often reactively reject and replace the thought after it occurs. But proactively avoiding an association in the first place can be much more efficient, ...

Emily Laurence is a journalist, freelance writer and certified health coach living in Raleigh, North Carolina. She specializes in writing about mental health, healthy aging and overall wellness. For ...

In the mid-1980s scientists conducted a famous experiment in which they asked participants to try to avoid thinking of a white bear. Over the course of five minutes, the experimental subjects were to ...