How to detect if you are in a mental vicious circle

There are thought patterns that are a real trap into which we fall over and over again.

Our mind tends to repeat, to go back to what we know, to what gives us comfort, to repeat behaviors that, although they hurt us, we return to them again and again.to what gives us comfort, to repeat behaviors that even if they hurt us, we put them into practice again. It is important to know ourselves and observe ourselves to know what is making us wrong and produce healthy changes to move away from that area that generates suffering.

Being in a vicious circle implies doing the same act over and over again, repeating a scene, a situation, obtaining the same or similar results. This causes the feeling of lack of exit, absence of alternatives, inability to choose something different. To be in a vicious circle is to feel in a dead end.

Breaking the vicious circle of the mind.

"The same thing always happens to me", "I'm not lucky", "Why try if I won't be able to?": these beliefs limit us and stop us from building new paths to develop as people. Generally, this is caused by low self-esteem, lack of security and self-confidence when making decisions, or by bad past experiences that hinder the present or provoke the development of the future. hinder the present or provoke fear of the future..

We register the discomfort and suffering and suspect that they are linked to a certain situation (substance abuse, exhausting work, toxic relationships) but often, instead of trying to solve the problem, this discomfort paralyzes us and causes us to enter into complaint, worry, confusion, feeling of emptiness. The vicious circle through which we are passing remains invisible.We feel the unpleasant effects, but it is difficult to stop and look at ourselves and analyze the whole situation.

We complain, we suffer, we get upset, without realizing that in order to get out of this harmful repetition we have to make decisions that allow us to break this circle that generates wear and tear and suffering.

Types of vicious circle

We will discuss 3 types of vicious circles. Knowing their existence will allow you to detect them and get out of their trap.

1. Turning around in a tiring job

If our work does not satisfy us, does not motivate us or we suffer mistreatment in it, we probably have feelings of frustration, helplessness, reluctance, lack of recognitionlack of recognition and opportunities to grow in our work. This causes us to find it hard to start the workday, to wish that Monday would never come and to wait with all our will to run away from there.

We perceive the discomfort caused by the work we do or the conditions of the work environment, but if we are in the circle we will probably turn in it with complaints, anger and frustration, but without doing anything to change the situation.

A big obstacle to decide to break this dynamic is fear.. In this case, we may become afraid of starting a new job search and not getting a job, fear of finding a job with more adverse conditions than the current ones, fear of earning less money and living more tightly.

There are no magic or unique recipes, but one of the tools to implement in this situation is to encourage ourselves to make the decision to seek new job opportunities and set specific goals, with a deadline. For example, taking the time to research job offers, using word of mouth to tell people we are interested in getting a new job, not acting impulsively and without thinking. Making a decision takes time and different steps, the first one is to be encouraged.

2. Turning within a complicated breakup

When you already feel that you are undertaking the difficult process of forgetting your ex and you realize that it was a relationship that was not good for you... this longing reappears! Just in that key moment, where you remembered the negative things, you got angry, you said it's over, a message or a shy and suggestive like on Facebook arrives and your emotional reaction to this indicates that the seed of that mental trap is still there.

You wonder why not give it another chance, after all it wasn't such a bad relationship... Or yes, but well, it's easier to go back to the known, to repeat old stories that, although we suspect what the results might be, we put them together the same way, perhaps hoping that this time it will be different. But most likely, as long as we do the same thing (and let them do the same thing to us) the results will sadly be the same.

Probably what hinders us to break this circle is the fear of loneliness and of not being loved again. of not being loved again, or feeling dependent on the other person, believing that without him/her we cannot live well. The confusion between love and need is never good.

A loving relationship is a relationship of respect, trust and freedom. Being in love is not synonymous with being enslaved. If you feel this way, decide what is best for you, look for healthy relationships and your mind and body will thank you for it..

3. Turning into a substance addiction

Substance addictions are a health problem caused by the compulsive consumption of drugs capable of producing dependence, both physical and psychological. The vicious circle is installed when consumption becomes excessive, uncontrolled, compulsive. That is, consuming for the sake of consuming, consuming because it is needed, because the body or the head asks for it.

To stop consuming by one's own means is something very difficult and almost impossible for the addicted person. and almost impossible for the addicted person. It requires containment and specialized treatment to be able to break this dangerous and even deadly circle.

After compulsive consumption comes the effects of abstinence, which makes it necessary to resume consumption. After this, the addicted person is likely to feel guilty, frustrated or angry with himself/herself. But if the circle is not broken, after these feelings and thoughts, the consumption can return again and again, instead of reflecting and deciding to change.

Reorient ourselves towards healthy living

To remain turning over and over again in circle does not allow us a personal growth nor an emotional well-being.. When detecting our vicious circle, we can get out of the complaint and ask ourselves why it happens to us what happens to us, to be able to begin to travel a different path in a very interesting process of change.