Why It's So Hard to Stop Intrusive Thoughts—And What Actually Helps

How many times have you tried to suppress an unwanted thought, only to ruminate on it even more? Research shows that the brain reacts to attempts at thought suppression by repeatedly checking for the thought, making it stronger and increasing our distress. Dr. Laurie explains why our minds work in this paradoxical way—and explores the science behind intrusive thoughts, bad memories, and mental control. Through stories of real people who have confronted and overcome disruptive thoughts, she shares how acceptance, attention shifts, and self-compassion can lead to less stress and greater happiness.

Experts Mentioned:
- Daniel Wegner, Professor of Psychology, Harvard University
- Eve Ekman, Senior Fellow, Greater Good Science Center
- James Pennebaker, Professor Emeritus of Psychology, University of Texas Austin
- James Gross, Ernest R. Hilgard Professor of Psychology, Stanford University

Resources Mentioned
- "When the Antidote is the Poison: Ironic Mental Control Processes," (Psychological Science, 1997)
- "Paradoxical Effects of Thought Suppression," (Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 1987)
- "The Putt and the Pendulum: Ironic Effects of the Mental Control of Action" (Psychological Science, 1998)
- The Eichmann Trial
- "Disclosure of Traumas and Health Among Holocaust Survivors," (Psychosomatic Medicine, 1989)
- Opening Up: The Healing Power of Expressing Emotions by James Pennebaker (1997)
- "Antecedent- and Response-Focused Emotion Regulation: Divergent Consequences for Experience, Expression, and Physiology," (Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 1998)
- "Delayed Costs of Suppressed Pain," (Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 1993)
- "Not in Front of the Kids: Effects of Parental Suppression on Socialization Behaviors During Cooperative Parent–Child Interactions," (Emotion, 2019)
- "The Four Noble Truths," (BBC, 2009)

Related episodes of "The Happiness Lab":
- "Q: 'How Do I Stop Negative Self-Talk?' (with Ethan Kross)"
- "Emotions Are Data…So Listen to Them"
- "Hack Your Emotions (with Ethan Kross)"
- "How to Handle Change"
- "How to Fight Perfectionism"

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