In our hyper-connected world, lies are everywhere.
They're in the news, on social media, and sometimes even in the words of people we trust.
But what happens when we start to believe these lies? It turns out the effects can be pretty damaging to our mental health.
Let's dive into how believing lies can mess with our minds, emotions, and overall well-being, and explore ways to break free from their grip.
Your mind LOVES to play games with you. Ever caught yourself thinking something like, "I'm just not good enough," or "Nobody really cares about me"?
These thoughts are often rooted in lies we've been fed or lies we've told ourselves.
According to the practice of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), these negative thoughts can spiral into full-blown mental health issues like anxiety and depression.
What about all the twisted thinking? You may not even realize what you are doing to yourself.
Lies can warp our thinking in some pretty sneaky ways.
Here are a few common cognitive distortions:
Catastrophizing: Always expecting the worst-case scenario. Just waiting for the other shoe to drop…
Overgeneralization: Making sweeping conclusions from a single event. It’s not all men/women/bears, right?
Black-and-white thinking: Seeing things in extremes without any middle ground. Our favorite words- Always & Never!
These distortions turn into mental traps, making it tough to see the world as it really is and keeping us stuck in a loop of negativity.
Oh, the emotional fallout is intense. When we believe lies, they can take a toll on our emotions, chipping away at our self-esteem and making us feel worthless.
Ouch, I felt that one. If you've ever been told you're not good enough, you know how deeply that lie can cut, leaving scars that affect how you feel about yourself.
And the hits keep coming… you with me?
We end up sacrificing our self-esteem. It’s like our mental health shield, our armor that we wear 24/7.
When it's strong, we feel confident and capable.
But as the lies pour down upon us, they slowly corrode that shield.
They make us doubt ourselves and feel less than we are, leading to persistent anxiety and depression.
Low self-esteem is like taking a negative modifier to your social skill check dice roll. IYKYK
You can’t forget about the emotional breakdowns, or “high speed come-aparts” as my father calls them.
I mean, believing lies doesn't just mess with our minds and emotions; it changes how we act.
Think about it: if you believe you're unlovable, you might avoid social interactions, leading to isolation and loneliness. This behavior only deepens the mental health struggle.
Avoidance is a common reaction to distressing thoughts and feelings. But while it might offer temporary relief, it usually makes things worse in the long run.
“Just deal with it” is easier said than done.
Isolation, meanwhile, cuts us off from social support, which is crucial for maintaining mental health.
When’s the last time someone hugged you? No…for real.
This vicious cycle of avoidance and loneliness can make stuff significantly more difficult in the long run.
Now, what do you think all this is doing to our body?
Our minds and bodies are deeply connected, and believing lies can lead to chronic stress.
This kind of stress isn't just a mental burden—it can cause real physical health problems like heart disease and a weakened immune system.
Techniques from somatic therapy, such as mindfulness and body awareness, can help alleviate these physical effects by addressing the mind-body connection directly. Plus, somatic yoga is the bomb!
Look, lies don't just affect us individually; they can wreak havoc on our relationships.
When trust is broken, it can lead to feelings of betrayal and make it hard to form healthy connections.
This social disruption adds another layer to the emotional toll of believing lies.
Seriously, trust is the foundation of healthy relationships. Lies erode this foundation, leading to conflict and insecurity.
Rebuilding trust takes time and effort, and it's crucial for healing.
Narrative therapy can help by allowing us to rewrite our personal stories and rebuild trust in ourselves and others.
So, how do we stop this nonsense?
My mentor taught me that believing lies hurts—literally.
If a thought brings you pain, it’s likely a lie.
Pain acts like a signal, pointing out where the lies are, but it won't remove them for you.
It would be amazing if you could just click your heels together three times, say "I don’t believe that lie anymore," and magically erase the pain and the lies.
Unfortunately, life isn't that simple. Instead, you need to confront the pain, immerse yourself in it, listen to the lies without accepting them, and allow the pain to dissipate.
This process cleanses your mind. That’s our true nature. That’s what genuinely works.
Remember, the truth might be harder to face sometimes, but it's always the path to a healthier, happier you.
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