Stomp out the ANTs (Automatic Negative Thoughts)
By Sally-Anne McCormack
Sally-Anne McCormack is a registered psychologist, former teacher and mother of four. She has extensive experience dealing with a broad range of psychological disorders such as anxiety and depression, but has a particular interest in working with children and adolescents. Stomp out the ANTs is a fantastic resource for individuals of any age who are experiencing recurrent negative thoughts, and wish to squash such thoughts in order to lead a happier, worry-free life. The book teaches the reader simple strategies for identifying and effectively dealing with negative thoughts, and replacing them with more positive thoughts and therefore feelings.
The book opens with a heartfelt message from the author stating that individuals suffering from ‘mood disorders’ such as anxiety and depression are not alone, and certainly are not at fault. The author creatively likens the ANTs in our heads to the pesky insects that invade all of our homes at some point, and reassures us that we should never feel shame or embarrassment about the current ‘infestation’. Furthermore, just as some individuals are reluctant to use insect sprays on surfaces used to prepare food, many individuals are reluctant to take medication in order to wipe out their ANTs. This, too, is completely rational and understandable, and all of the techniques taught in this book are chemical-free!
Borrowing from the psychological principles of cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT), the book teaches readers to correct the chemical imbalance in the brain that causes mood disorders, simply by altering current thinking patterns. By teasing apart and tuning into our thoughts and feelings and attributing how we feel to our thoughts rather than the immediate situation or context in which the feeling occurred, we are able to control the thoughts that enter our heads. Put simply, events themselves do not cause us to feel good or bad; rather, it’s the thought that accompanies the event that determines how we feel. We cannot change events however, we can change our thoughts and feelings in response to life events! Learning that thoughts cause feelings endows readers with a sense of control over their thoughts and encourages them to stop worrying about things they have no control over, to stop blaming others and to help themselves.
By Amy—March 2010
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