How do you change how you feel about something?

Question

I know there's a way... Therapists treat phobias. How would someone go about changing how they feel about something? (By someone, I mean me.)

Answer 1

think positive instead of negative about them. if they make you feel "bad" or "sorrowful" then start to associate them with better thoughts. this is because the she is not truly triggering the bad event as much as you are thinking negatively about her because of the event that took place between you two. if you want to treat it like a phobia you can either think about her and the event until you feel as you do then relax and think of something nice. or you can just talk to her (or whomever) about your feelings, tell them that this is bothering you and you really don't want it to. do the latter if you are close to the person, like a friend or worker but if it's just some person who you have never talked to then this is something you might want to handle either with help from friends or a professional.

basically, you have to change the thinking associated with her from just negatives and self defeating attitudes to something else that benefits both of you.

Answer 2

If it is a phobia you are talking about, I have had good success with mine by forcing myself to do things that involve dealing with my hang up. One of them is being afraid of heights. So I hang curtains, change light bulbs and do those things for myself instead of having my husband or someone else do it for me. The fear is still with me and very real, but I feel it is getting easier for me to get these sort of things done and still cope on a normal level. If you're not talking about that sort of thing, then maybe it's just an opinion you have that you are thinking about changing. Maybe you don't really need to change how you feel about it. Give it a great deal of thought before you make your decision for real. You might be worrying about something unnecessarily.

Answer 3

It depends on why you feel the way you do. If it is a value, that's really hard to change because it's part of who you are. If it is a belief, expose yourself to the opposite, i.e. if you are prejudice against muslims, spend time with some upstanding muslims and try to learn from their perspective. If you are trying to stop feeling a way about a person, try to occupy your mind with other things and when you do think of that person think of their negative characteristics - everyone has them.
It would help if you could be a little more specific.

Answer 4

My family uses what we like to call psychobabble. We just keep telling ourselves what we want to believe and eventually you do. It doesnt' always work, but every once in a while it does. If you are trying to make yourself feel differently about a person, try digging deep and finding all of their closet skeletons. Maybe you'll find something you dont' like, or do like, depending on how you are trying to make yourself feel about this person.

Did you mean yourself? If you mean yourself, then there is no point, you already know your whole past! Anyway, if you want to feel better about yourself, get involved in things you enjoy. Meet new people, get a haircut. Tell yourself how wonderful you are every time you look in the mirror. Pretend like you know what people think, and pretend that its all wonderful stuff about you. Like how gorgeous your eyes are, or how you are wearing the coolest shirt that anyone has ever laid eyes on. That sort of thing is always fun!

Answer 5

One school of thought is what is termed a cognitive approach. Basically, what one thinks leads to what you would then feel. Our beliefs, which originate from our past experiences, are the basis for our cognitions.

For example, if you have been around bees or wasps and you have been stung, your perception, based upon your beliefs, would be that they are harmful. This thought that bees are harmful, would then lead you to "feel" anxious and apprehensive. In order to change your feelings of anxiety, you would then have to change your thoughts. You have probably been around hundreds, if not thousands, of bees and wasps in your life. How many times have you been stung? Let's say three. Then the probability that they will sting you again would be EXTREMELY low. Therefore, you can change your thinking to: yes, I have been stung before, but the chances of being stung again ar almost nill. In this scenario, your level of anxiety would be greatly reduced.

This type of cognitive approach can apply in almost any situation to change your feelings, whatever they may be.

Answer 6

what is it first of all? realize the thing your afraid of is ok. and that you can learn to not have a phobia of it

Answer 7

Make a decision and stick to it
Its that easy.

Answer 8

hypnosis or mental patterning (repeat the desired wish over and over in you mind till it takes hold)