Many research explains how the constant distress experienced by individuals with chronic illness exists in the cognitive process. One of the researches reveals the existence of cognition beyond cognition. To explain this phenomenon, they called metacognition (1). So, is that possible to think upon thoughts and how does it affect our daily lives? Controlling thoughts has an essential role in the level of anxiety and depression.
Many patients can make negative evaluations about their disease. As a result of these evaluations, the problems of these patients continue. How does controlling our thoughts in such a situation affect the healing process? We know that thinking as itself can increase awareness of ourselves. But, at the same time, they can become anxious while thinking negative thoughts. Can you control your thoughts?
Controlling Thoughts May Reduce Anxiety Level
According to Yazar and Tolan, people who control their thoughts demonstrate a low level of anxiety and depression symptoms (3). In other words, it is indicated that beliefs about the difficulty of controlling negative thoughts can increase depression and anxiety. Well, we learned controlling thoughts may help to decrease anxiety level. What is next? If we need to control our thoughts on a metacognition level, what would be happened?
Here are some items to make more explicit the idea of it:
“I should be in control of my thoughts all of the time.”
“Not being able to control my thoughts is a sign of weakness.”
“I will be punished for not controlling certain thoughts.”
“It is bad to think certain thoughts.”
(2)
For example, you are diagnosed with obsessive-compulsive disorder and afraid of going outside because of dirtiness. And you always have this thought:
“If I go outside, all dirtiness of people will kill me.”
And you start to think that so much. Could you manage to figure out how to control thoughts and feelings? At this time, you may think it is not good to think that at the metacognition level. So, if we control our negative thoughts, we can become more aware of what we think, which may bring a healing process. If not you, so who controls your thoughts?
References
1 – Moshman, D. (2018). Metacognitive Theories Revisited. Educ Psychol Rev., 30, 599–606.
2 – Tulloch, K., & Baillie, A. J. (2020). Development and Initial Evaluation of the Craving Metacognition Scale, Australian Psychologist, 55(1), 38-49.
3 – Yazar, T., & Tolan, Ö. (2020). Investigation of the Relationships between Metacognitive Functions and Subjective Well-Being and Depression, Anxiety and Stress Levels in Adult Individuals, Research On Education And Psychology, 4(2), 172-193.
