What Is Magical Thinking?
Many of us perform these actions without any disruption to our day-to-day lives.
While magical thinking can be fun and harmless, it can become disruptive.
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Who Engages in Magical Thinking?
For instance, a young child believes that their wishing for something causes it to happen.
People often use magical thinking to feel more in control of their environment and to cope with the unknown.
By thinking about what theydon’twant to happen, they believe they’re protecting themselves against these undesirable outcomes.
A common example of this is someone knocking on wood every time they think of something theydon’twant to happen.
When Is Magical Thinking Harmful?
Magical thinking can promote feelings ofconfidenceandoptimismin people.
What one person calls magical thinking, another person calls a belief system.
Sometimes, magical thinking helps us interpret the world around us in an adaptive way.
A mental healthcare professional may help you address magical thinking if you find it disruptive to your life.
Journaling and Planning
First, give a shot to identify when your magical thinking takes place.
Does it happen during times of stress or worry?
Try journaling about your worriesand the types of thoughts you have in response to your worries.
Then, try writing down two to three practical things you might do to work toward your desired outcome.
If you don’t get the grade you want, review the test and see where you made mistakes.
SSRIs function in the brain to increase levels ofserotonina neurotransmitter that regulates mood and anxiety.
SSRIs may make stress more manageable, helping you feel less reliant on magical thinking in generalized anxiety disorder.
American Psychological Association.Magical thinking.
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