How do I stop negative thinking?

While a lot of psychological techniques have a learning curve and take time to make tangible improvements in life, some work within seconds. One of these is the popular 5-step psychological sensory grounding mindfulness technique.

It is a widely practiced psychological & self-help “first-aid” technique which aims to stop uncontrolled thoughts, spiraling, mental chaos, growing anxiety & stress. It’s a recovery method to snap out of short-term high-intensity bouts of anxiety, flashbacks, and unwanted negative thoughts so you can relax and calm down.

Before we get to the steps, let us understand the name of this technique. There are 4 keywords in the name:

Psychological – The technique is a mental process within your control

Sensory – Each of the 5 steps is about your senses or perceptions

Grounding – The technique forces a re-connection with your immediate reality

Mindfulness – The process involves paying deliberate attention to certain immediate experiences.

You might have guessed that this technique is supposed to hijack your attention, divert it, and focus it on immediate experiences and “ground” you in the moment. Much like how spider-man’s iron spider suit grounds him with 8 powerful legs while falling so he can regain stability and fight.

Let’s get to the process now.