I think the reality here is probably complex. I think we can direct our thoughts to some degree, and that in turn creates our feelings to some degree. Using that wisely isn’t trivial. If I obsess about controlling my thinking, that could easily become upsetting.
I do think there’s a good chance that the views David Foster Wallace espouses here were causally linked to his depression and suicide. They should be taken with caution. But doing the opposite isn’t probably the best approach either
I had thought that cognitive reframing is part of some well-regarded therapeutic approaches to depression. While one can’t choose how to feel, it is pretty apparent that we can, sometimes, choose what to think. When I ask myself “what should I think about now?” I get what seems like meaningful answers, and they direct my train of thought to a nontrivial degree—but not infinitely. My thoughts return to emotionally charged topics. If this upsets me, those topics become even more emotionally charged, and my thoughts return to them more often. This is the “don’t think of a white bear” phenomenon.
However, gentle redirection does seem to work. Reframing my understanding of situations in ways that make me happier does appear to sometimes make me happier.
But thinking I should be able to do this infinitely is unrealistic, and my failure to do so would be upsetting if I thought I should be able to control my feelings and my thoughts relatively thoroughly.
I think this is a fascinating topic. I think therapy and psychology is in its infancy, and I expect us to have vastly better treatment for depression relatively soon. It will probably involve hugs and puppies as well as a better understanding of how we can and should try to think about our thinking.
Fascinating, thank you!
I think the reality here is probably complex. I think we can direct our thoughts to some degree, and that in turn creates our feelings to some degree. Using that wisely isn’t trivial. If I obsess about controlling my thinking, that could easily become upsetting.
I do think there’s a good chance that the views David Foster Wallace espouses here were causally linked to his depression and suicide. They should be taken with caution. But doing the opposite isn’t probably the best approach either
I had thought that cognitive reframing is part of some well-regarded therapeutic approaches to depression. While one can’t choose how to feel, it is pretty apparent that we can, sometimes, choose what to think. When I ask myself “what should I think about now?” I get what seems like meaningful answers, and they direct my train of thought to a nontrivial degree—but not infinitely. My thoughts return to emotionally charged topics. If this upsets me, those topics become even more emotionally charged, and my thoughts return to them more often. This is the “don’t think of a white bear” phenomenon.
However, gentle redirection does seem to work. Reframing my understanding of situations in ways that make me happier does appear to sometimes make me happier.
But thinking I should be able to do this infinitely is unrealistic, and my failure to do so would be upsetting if I thought I should be able to control my feelings and my thoughts relatively thoroughly.
I think this is a fascinating topic. I think therapy and psychology is in its infancy, and I expect us to have vastly better treatment for depression relatively soon. It will probably involve hugs and puppies as well as a better understanding of how we can and should try to think about our thinking.