A 48-year-old woman entering menopause, how can she avoid catastrophic thinking?

Don't you worry, everything is going to be just fine!

Menopause does bring about some big changes in our bodies and minds. If you're feeling a bit unwell, you can always go to the hospital and ask the doctor to prescribe some hormone-regulating medication. They'll be able to help you out!

You just need to take care of yourself mentally, my dear.

First, try not to label yourself. It's okay if you're thinking about menopause every day, and how you should do this and that. You don't have to give yourself psychological hints that you should work and study normally.

Secondly, try to focus on the present. The root of anxiety is often just the pain of the past and the worry of the future. In fact, whether you're going through menopause or not, you'll probably be troubled by these two things, so most people will have different levels of anxiety.

The past is in the past, the future is still out there, but the one thing you can control is the present. So, do your best with what you have, focus on the task at hand, and your anxiety will gradually subside.

If you do well in the present, your future will be just fine too! After all, the present determines the future. And if you have a good attitude and good emotions at this time, your luck will only get better and better!

This is the wonderful principle of the law of universal attraction!

Don't worry about anything, my friend. I know it's tough, but excessive worry is actually a curse. Your future fortune depends entirely on your current state of mind.

That's why the wise folks from ancient times said that having your heart's desire come true is not just a blessing, but a fact!

I really think you'd enjoy the book or the movie of the same name, "The Secret." It's so inspiring! And if you watch it more than five times, I just know your fate will be very different.

Wishing you the very best!

At a certain age, we also need to go with the flow. And because of physical factors, we also need to reconcile with it.

"I get anxious and nervous easily, I always have wild thoughts, I always think the worst when something happens, and I always doubt that I will get a bad disease."

Let's look for solutions together!

1. It's so important to get the right amount of exercise, eat a healthy, balanced diet and have a normal routine.

When things get a little crazy in our hearts, we try to make our lives as regular as possible.

In this kind of regular time, it's so important to cultivate a feeling of living in the present.

You know, creating a schedule and starting to follow it will gradually restore inner order.

And the great news is that a regular diet, a stable routine, and appropriate exercise can also make us healthier and extend our lives!

It's a wonderful thing that does so many good things at once!

2. Pay attention to your interests and hobbies, and try to find ways to restore a stable state of mind when doing things.

I'm sure the OP has worked hard for most of his life. If the family is stable and the financial situation is stable, it'd be great for him to consider his interests and hobbies again!

When you were young, we all have those moments when practical problems get in the way of doing something we really want to do.

It's a great time for that!

Some people learn to play the piano, which is such a lovely thing to do!

Some people learn to dance, which is a great way to let loose and have fun!

Some people even learn Chinese painting!

And some people just love taking pictures with their cameras!

It's also a great idea to find a hobby you love. Doing this will help you feel more stable on the inside.

3. It's also a great idea to make sure you have lots of lovely people around you to support you!

We all have so many different parts to our lives! Family, close relationships, friends, fun, career development, personal growth, art, hobbies, and so much more.

If we keep dwelling on things that might never happen, we'll probably end up feeling pretty anxious and fearful.

All our worries come from our attachment to the past and our fear of the future. The good news is that we can get rid of these anxieties and insecurities by simply living in the present!

The questioner can also have more fun chatting with friends and find their second curve at work.

There's nothing better than serving others wholeheartedly!

It's so true that helping others is a wonderful way to help ourselves too! When we help others, it's often a form of self-healing.

I have a friend who is a counselor, and she has a bit of a messy home, too, with all kinds of unhappy things.

But once she sits in the counseling room, she's totally focused on the relationship between her and the visitor.

It made her feel really powerful in that moment and helped her find her inner peace again.

Once the visitor has left, she feels energized and ready to face the mess head-on.

I'm sure the questioner has worked for a long time and has lots of great experience and methods in their field.

You can also help more young people, spread the truth, goodness, and beauty, or even become a volunteer!

Exploring yourself in these events is also a great way to find your second curve in life!

4. It's also a great idea to work on your emotional awareness and make sure you know the difference between what's a fact and what's just your own speculation.

Sometimes, even after you've made lots of changes in your life, you might still find yourself thinking irrationally.

At this point, it would be really helpful for you to take a deep breath, calm down a little, and take out a pen to record.

Hey there! I know this can be tough, but I'm here to help. Let's make a two-column table together.

Now, let's focus on the part that says "facts."

Now, the part that says "conjecture."

I promise you'll be amazed at how well you can categorize all these thoughts when you write them down. You'll also have a clear picture of what happened to you.

When we're aware of our thoughts and have control over them, we won't develop catastrophic thinking. It's so important to be aware of our thoughts and to have control over them!

If you find yourself thinking in a negative way, it can really help to write down the worst possible outcome.

When you write them down on paper, you'll see things in a different light.

The good news is that most of these disasters are imagined by us and not something that will actually happen.

5. Set your beacon and find the meaning of life.

We might lose sight of our original dreams and feel like we can't find our way back.

Or maybe you feel like you don't need to explore the meaning of life and your dreams at this age.

The great news is that we can continue to set our long-term goals at any time.

I used to work at an English training institution, and I got to meet so many lovely people aged 60-70 who came to learn English.

I was curious, so I asked them why they wanted to learn.

The reasons were all different, but one was really quite interesting:

When I was young, I had the chance to work abroad, but I decided to turn it down, and I really wish I hadn't! Now I'm trying to make up for it by learning English.

You should definitely go to that place and take a look! Now that my child has immigrated there, she wants to stay in that country for a while, teach foreigners Chinese, and promote traditional Chinese culture.

The questioner can also set their own beacon goal, give themselves a plan for the next 5-10 years, and live out the meaning and excitement of their lives.

I also hope that the original poster can find beauty in their life. There are so many beautiful scenes and people in your everyday life, even if you don't realize it! When you're surrounded by beauty, it's hard to stay down in the dumps.

I wish you all the best as you approach the time of knowing your destiny! I hope you continue to live your life to the fullest!

Hello.

Host:

After carefully reading the post, it is clear that the poster always thinks irrationally and always thinks the worst when encountering things. However, the poster also bravely expressed his distress and actively sought help on the platform, which will undoubtedly help him better understand himself and adjust accordingly.

Next, I will present my observations and thoughts in the post, which will undoubtedly help the poster gain more perspectives on themselves.

1. Stop in time.

The poster always thinks nonsense and always thinks the worst when something happens. This is maddening.

We can do this. The original poster can call a halt in time.

When you realize you're daydreaming again, stop it. Interrupt your thoughts and avoid immersing yourself in idle musings.

Sing, do yoga, or do something else to distract yourself.

All of these are possible. For example, I sometimes think about bad situations while driving. I interrupt my thoughts and go sing, and it's often over in a minute or two.

The host must recognize his own thinking and then stop it. He should then redirect his attention.

2. Learn to talk to your catastrophic thinking and change your perception.

Controlling our thoughts is difficult, but it is possible. Once we become aware of our catastrophic thinking, we can take a few deep breaths to calm ourselves down.

Have a conversation with yourself. For example, a counselor has become aware of her own fear.

She knows it's because she's worried about her mother's surgery tomorrow. She runs over to hug her fear and says, "How are you?" The fear trembles and says, "I'm afraid something will go wrong during my mother's surgery, even though it's only minor and the doctor says the probability of failure is low."

The counselor then told the fear, "Mom has always been in good health, and Dad is still by her side, so there's no reason to worry!"

She calms her emotions through such conversations. The original poster can also calm themselves by talking to themselves and telling themselves that it's not true.

There is no objective evidence to prove it, so you can adjust your perception through dialogue.

3. Go work out.

I recently had an experience where I felt incapable of dealing with a situation, despite feeling tired. I went to bed early, and when I woke up the next day, I felt ready to face it. I reflected on the situation and realized I had the ability and confidence to handle it.

I then considered what had changed between this morning and last night. I wanted to know what had affected our state of mind.

I can say with confidence that I feel a change in my own energy.

You've traveled a long way and are out of steam. You can't walk 5 kilometers. You need to rest and recharge before you can try again.

The original poster can improve their physical fitness through exercise to ensure they have enough energy.

4. Go practice meditation.

If you have the means, follow some teachers to practice meditation. If you don't have the means, do it yourself. Relaxing your body through meditation, becoming aware of your body, and focusing your attention on your body will calm you down and stop daydreaming.

Any method will not be effective as soon as you start practicing it.

When we first start, we only learn the appearance, not the "internal strength." This makes it ineffective.

I am a 壹心理心探 coach, Zeng Chen, and I am confident that these will be of some help and inspiration to the poster.

If you need one-on-one communication, click on the coach to accompany you as you face your problems.

Hello, question asker!

From what you've said, it's clear that you're going through a lot at the moment. Menopause is a unique experience for every woman.

It is a special thing because our hormone levels change greatly. Women with sensitive bodies will have a relatively large physiological reaction, and it will take time and some intervention methods to help them get through this process. During this period, you must take care of yourself both physically and mentally.

You are asking for help, which is also a form of self-care. It is right to express your distress and confusion here! When we can't get out of confusion, we should seek help. This is a sign of strength!

I'm going to show you how to beat those catastrophic thoughts. When they come, they'll make you anxious and take over your mind.

If you think that if you don't take action, things will immediately get worse, you are wrong. This kind of thinking not only makes you increasingly nervous and extreme, but also involves the family. In the end, the family will feel that you are unreasonable. Then immediately afterwards, your "victim" thinking comes out. You think that the family does not understand you or care about you. How come you are so miserable? At this point, emotions get out of control, and the relationship with the family is extremely tense.

When you notice this kind of thinking, don't jump to conclusions. Take a moment to calm down, count to five, and then take a deep breath. After ten breaths, your emotions will start to stabilize.

Because breathing is the most effective way to separate anxiety, examine these thoughts: "Is it true? Is it really going to happen?"

By this time, our reason has usually brought us back to reality.

Ask yourself the following when "catastrophic" thoughts come to mind:

1. Identify the factor that triggered your emotional response. What are your thoughts, ideas, and judgments on the matter?

2. Give me the ideas and arguments that support your question.

3. I want to hear your arguments against it.

4. What is the worst that can happen? How would you react if it happened?

5. What is the best possible outcome?

6. What will be the result if this continues?

7. If you persist in this negative emotion for a long time, it will have a negative impact on you. If you change this negative emotion, it will have a positive impact on you.

8. If it were someone else (in your position) who constantly said they were unfortunate, you would advise them to do the following.

9. If things are moving in a positive direction, what will you do to take a small step forward?

10. What else is there to say?

If you answer these questions, you will feel calmer!

Mindfulness meditation is an effective way to relieve anxiety. When we are anxious, our thoughts are like hurricanes at sea level, but breathing will take us to the calm seabed.

After the calm, you will not be so anxious. Find meditation courses on the Yi Xinli platform. They offer many good free meditation exercises.

Pay more attention to yourself.

We can go to the hospital for a check-up and take some supplements under the guidance of a doctor. We are different from the previous generation. We have many options to help us get through this period comfortably, and we will do so.

You should exercise more and get more sun exposure to ward off depression.

Meet up with friends regularly, change your environment, and change your state of mind.

Tell your family you're going through a special period, that you don't feel well, and that you're experiencing strange things. Demand that they be more tolerant.

We have been young until menopause, and life has passed almost halfway. In the past years, we have gained a lot of life experience and knowledge. Perhaps before, we spent more energy taking care of children, taking care of the family, working, etc., but now is the time for us to catch our breath. We are no longer young.

It's time to love and care for ourselves! Go to a local psychological institution and find a counselor for psychological counseling.

Read the books on the Yi Xinli platform, such as "The Power of Self-Care" and "Embracing Your Inner Child."

Love is light and power. It can drive away any fear and darkness. You will find love again!

Best wishes!

Hello, question asker! It's so lovely to meet you. Let's dive into this together!

It's totally normal to feel a bit more anxious and nervous after anxiety/a-48-year-old-woman-entering-menopause-how-can-she-avoid-catastrophic-thinking-7893.html" target="_blank">menopause.

It's totally normal to worry about getting sick when you're young. We all do it!

First of all, age is something we can't do anything about. It's so important to accept your age and the fact that at 48 you are still in your prime! With the current life expectancy figures, you've only just passed the halfway mark, so you're still young!

So, how should we look after our physical and mental health?

It's also a good idea to take a look at your own life and work schedule to see if it could use a little more regularity. And remember, you can stop daydreaming!

We all do it from time to time. Daydreaming is a behavior that causes high internal friction. It will disrupt your life plan, consume your enthusiasm for life, and occupy your mind, making you feel confused and helpless. But there's no need to fret! All you have to do is stop daydreaming and do something practical that you can do and want to do, even if it's just doing the housework.

If you think you might have a physical problem, it's a good idea to go to the hospital for a regular check-up. If there's something going on, it's important to face it head on. If there's nothing to worry about, then don't stress about it! I also think it's great to get moving and improve your physical fitness through exercise. There are so many inspiring older adults online who are proof that it's never too late to start an exercise routine.

It's so important to maintain a regular lifestyle, exercise more, and spend more time with your family.

When you're feeling lost, why not curl up with a good book? There's no such thing as too much knowledge, and it'll make you a more attractive person!

I really hope the questioner has a happy life, is safe, and is happy!

I really hope my answer has been helpful for you!

Hello, host!

Our bodies produce hormones that can make us feel anxious and distracted, and it's easy to start worrying about things that might not even happen. But don't worry, there are ways to calm down and overcome these feelings!

It's important to understand that our brains are wired to generate negative thoughts. It's not something we can control, but we can learn to recognize it and work with it. Our brains are designed to predict danger and stay alert, and that's a good thing! It's how we've survived and evolved as a species.

In the book "The Confidence Trap," a really helpful method for dealing with negative thoughts is introduced. It's called dissociation, which is also known as decoupling. It's a bit similar to externalization of problems in narrative therapy.

When negative thoughts come up, it's okay to let them be. We don't need to give them extra attention or try to fight them. Just let them come and go freely.

Step 1: Take a moment to notice the negative thought and then change the way you describe it. I notice that my mind has generated the thought that there may be something wrong with me.

It's okay to take a little distance from that catastrophic thought.

Step 2: Give the negative thought a name. For example, you can call it "Mr. Anxiety." To look at this negative thought from a different perspective, you can try to have a dialogue with it. For example, Mr. Anxiety is only here to remind us that we need to care for and take care of our bodies.

Step 3: Let's invalidate the negative thought by putting it into a new context or situation. There are two simple ways to do this: speak with data and speak with facts to refute this catastrophic thinking.

1. Use data to speak. For example, if you are overly worried about an accident when flying, you can look up the probability of a plane crash. In China, the average probability of an accident is generally 1 in 200,000, and sometimes it may be 1 in a million. This probability is very low, so there's no need to worry!

2. Speak the truth. For example, if you are worried about a problem with your body, go to the hospital for a comprehensive physical examination and use the medical report to reassure yourself that everything is fine and there is no need to worry.

Once you've taken a step back, the next thing to do is fully immerse yourself in what you're doing. The author introduces the wonderful method of mindfulness.

It's a state of mind that's open, focused, and self-aware.

I really hope these methods will be helpful to you!