A friend was recently robbed at gunpoint on a dark street. She’s a little bruised from being pushed around, but she’s generally OK. However, she says, she can’t stop thinking about it and wishes she could.
Not unusual. In the psychological literature, that’s called repetitive thought, and it can be a bad thing except when it’s a good thing.
As you probably already know, trying to suppress a thought is pointless—that old “don’t think about a white bear” parlor game. In fact, studies indicate that the more you try to suppress a thought, the more you will have it.
So if you can’t stop a repetitive thought, what do you do with it?
I found a fascinating article titled “Constructive and Unconstructive Repetitive Thought”, and it’s a 2008 literature review of different sorts of repetitive thoughts. I never thought about how many types there are. The article discusses…
Though I haven’t discussed the content of her thoughts with her, my friend’s repetitive thinking probably falls under “cognitive and emotional processing.” Her sense of safety and perception of her world has been rocked, and so the event is replaying again and again in her mind as she integrates it into her worldview.
It seems this kind of repetitive thinking can be helpful or unhelpful, depending on the light you cast on it.
For example, thinking over and over about how unsafe the world is after you’ve been victimized might ultimately do your head more harm than good. Finding something positive to think about–for example, how you were able to think and act under stress, or how people supported you afterwards–can help you fit the memory into your life in a positive way. Post-traumatic growth, they call it. (I happen to know my friend thought on her feet in terrifying circumstances, and that’s impressive. Brava!)
In addition, it appears that writing about the thoughts and emotions connected to an event can help post-traumatic growth. (The “thoughts” part is important. Just writing about emotions attached to it is not as helpful.)
In general, and unsurprisingly, negative repetitive thoughts are more likely to lead to negative consequences while positive repetitive thoughts can lead to positive consequences.
So if you can’t stop thinking about that white bear, at least give him a cuddle and make him your friend.
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Last reviewed: 8 Sep 2011