A new study conducted by the University of Cambridge has found that suppressing negative thoughts can actually help individuals with mental health problems. Traditional therapies often advise individuals with depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) to not suppress their negative thoughts, as it could worsen their symptoms. However, the study found that certain forms of thought suppression can actually be beneficial for those with mental health problems. The researchers conducted experiments with 120 participants from 16 different countries, including Germany, and found that actively suppressing negative thoughts led to less intense emotions and fewer negative symptoms.
Depression, anxiety, PTSD, and other mental illnesses have been on the rise globally in recent years, with lockdowns during the COVID-19 pandemic and increased use of social media being contributing factors. The study aimed to investigate whether suppressing negative thoughts had a negative impact on mental health, and found that it could actually be helpful for some individuals. Participants were asked to visualize potential events over the next two years and identify 20 negative incidents that triggered fears, such as the loss of a loved one. They were also asked to list 20 positive expectations and 36 neutral everyday scenes. The participants were then divided into two groups, with one group learning to suppress negative thoughts and the other focusing on overcoming neutral thoughts. The results showed that actively suppressing negative thoughts led to less intense emotions and fewer negative symptoms, particularly for those with strong mental health problems.
The study’s findings suggest that it may be beneficial for individuals with mental health problems to control and suppress their negative thoughts. However, the researchers also noted that there are some concerns that individuals should try to process and cope with, rather than suppress. The study did not find any negative rebound effects from suppressing negative thoughts, with only one participant out of 120 remembering the suppressed scenarios more intensely after the training. Overall, the study provides new insights into the potential benefits of thought suppression for individuals with mental health problems.
