But My Thoughts Feel So Real – Understanding the Reality of Your Mind

Hey there! Welcome back to Restored Minds, where we're all about supporting your mental and emotional journey. Today, we’re diving into one of those tricky topics: why our thoughts, especially the anxious and fearful ones, feel so real. Let’s break it down together.

Are My Thoughts and Emotions Legit?

First off, let's get one thing straight. As Matt Codde, our go-to licensed clinical social worker, points out — your thoughts and feelings are absolutely real experiences. It's your reality, and no one should make you feel like you're imagining things.

Thoughts vs. What They're About

Here’s the thing: just because you're thinking or feeling something doesn’t automatically make the content of those thoughts true. Imagine this — you worry about a "what if" scenario. Just because it freaks you out doesn't mean it's happening. So, it’s key to separate the feeling from what you’re thinking about.

How You See Things Matters

How you're seeing and interpreting things is a huge deal. Take a breakup, for instance. At first, you might feel super sad, but with time and a shift in perspective, maybe meeting someone new, your feelings change. So, it wasn’t just the breakup that made you sad — it was how you were looking at it.

Intrusive thoughts might seem like they come first, but often, they just pop up because there's an underlying fear. Recognizing that can help you manage them better.

Reframe to Relax

Seeing things from a fresh perspective can really dial down that emotional overwhelm. If you’re reacting fearfully while others aren’t, it might just be how you’re seeing the situation. Shifting that view can bring a lot of peace.