{"id":17076,"date":"2025-09-03T15:36:47","date_gmt":"2025-09-03T05:36:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mindbodyfoodinstitute.com\/?p=17076"},"modified":"2025-10-27T13:19:04","modified_gmt":"2025-10-27T03:19:04","slug":"automatic-negative-thoughts-how-to-stop-the-ants-in-your-mind","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mindbodyfoodinstitute.com\/automatic-negative-thoughts-how-to-stop-the-ants-in-your-mind\/","title":{"rendered":"Automatic Negative Thoughts: How to Stop the ANTs in Your Mind"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"17076\" class=\"elementor elementor-17076\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-dc4432c elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"dc4432c\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-337e63b\" data-id=\"337e63b\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-27ed71f elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"27ed71f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-995222c elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"995222c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Have you ever noticed how one negative thought can quickly spiral into ten more? You make a mistake at work, and before you know it, your mind is predicting disaster: <em>\u201cI always get things wrong. I\u2019m going to get fired. Nothing ever goes my way.\u201d<\/em><\/p><p>That spiral is not just imagination, it\u2019s your brain running on autopilot. Psychologists estimate that we have anywhere between <strong>50,000\u201380,000 thoughts per day<\/strong>, and around <strong>95\u201397% are repetitive<\/strong>. Even more concerning? <strong>75\u201385% of those thoughts are negative.<\/strong><\/p><p>Unless we learn how to interrupt them, those patterns of thinking \u2013 called <strong>automatic negative thoughts (ANTs)<\/strong> \u2013 can infest our mind, shape our beliefs, and sabotage our confidence.<\/p><p><strong>What Are ANTs?<\/strong><\/p><p>The term <strong>Automatic Negative Thoughts<\/strong> was coined by psychiatrist <strong>Dr. Daniel Amen<\/strong> after a long day with difficult clients\u2014and a literal ant infestation in his kitchen. He realised that, just like ants, negative thoughts are:<\/p><ul><li><strong>Pervasive:<\/strong> they crawl in everywhere.<\/li><li><strong>Repetitive:<\/strong> one thought follows another.<\/li><li><strong>Annoying:<\/strong> they won\u2019t leave unless you deliberately deal with them.<\/li><\/ul><p>The brain is a meaning-making machine. Left unchecked, these thoughts repeat so often that we start to believe them, whether they\u2019re true or not. But here\u2019s the key:<\/p><p>\ud83d\udc49 <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><strong>A thought is just a thought. It is not necessarily true.<\/strong><\/span><\/p><p><strong>Why the Brain Defaults to Negativity<\/strong><\/p><p>When your brain isn\u2019t focused on a task, it switches into what neuroscientists call the <strong>Default Mode Network<\/strong>, a background state that processes memories, solves problems, and daydreams.<\/p><p>This network can be wonderfully creative, but it also provides fertile ground for ANTs. The brain loves efficiency, so it recycles familiar thoughts \u2013 even the unhelpful ones. And because negative experiences can activate the stress response, the brain remembers and replays them more strongly than positive ones.<\/p><p>The result? We can become stuck in cycles of self-talk that reinforce fear, self-doubt and limitation.<\/p><h4><strong>The 9 Types of ANTs<\/strong><\/h4><p>Dr. Amen identified <strong>nine common \u201cspecies\u201d of automatic negative thoughts<\/strong> that most people experience:<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-c8db49b elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"c8db49b\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-bd2b5cc\" data-id=\"bd2b5cc\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7a3f230 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"7a3f230\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<ol><li><strong>All-or-Nothing ANTs<\/strong><ul><li><em>\u201cI never get this right.\u201d<\/em><\/li><li>Thinking in extremes, with no middle ground.<\/li><\/ul><\/li><li><strong>Less-Than ANTs<\/strong><ul><li><em>\u201cI\u2019ll never be as good as them.\u201d<\/em><\/li><li>Comparing yourself to others and shrinking in self-worth.<\/li><\/ul><\/li><li><strong>Just-the-Bad ANTs<\/strong><ul><li><em>\u201cNothing ever works out for me.\u201d<\/em><\/li><li>Filtering out positives to focus only on problems.<\/li><\/ul><\/li><li><strong>Guilt-Beating ANTs<\/strong><ul><li><em>\u201cI should be doing more. I have to get this done.\u201d<\/em><\/li><li>Driven by pressure, shame, or obligation.<\/li><\/ul><\/li><li><strong>Labelling ANTs<\/strong><ul><li><em>\u201cI\u2019m weak. I\u2019m stupid. They\u2019re selfish.\u201d<\/em><\/li><li>Attaching negative labels to yourself or others.<\/li><\/ul><\/li><li><strong>Fortune-Telling ANTs<\/strong><ul><li><em>\u201cThis will never work out. It\u2019s bound to go wrong.\u201d<\/em><\/li><li>Predicting the worst without evidence.<\/li><\/ul><\/li><li><strong>Mind-Reading ANTs<\/strong><ul><li><em>\u201cThey think I\u2019m a failure.\u201d<\/em><\/li><li>Assuming you know what others think about you.<\/li><\/ul><\/li><li><strong>If-Only ANTs<\/strong><ul><li><em>\u201cIf only I had more money, then I\u2019d be happy.\u201d<\/em><\/li><li>Believing happiness depends on conditions outside of you.<\/li><\/ul><\/li><li><strong>Blaming ANTs<\/strong><ul><li><em>\u201cIt\u2019s their fault I feel this way.\u201d<\/em><\/li><li>Refusing to take ownership of your own choices.<\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ol>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-8dfe347\" data-id=\"8dfe347\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-bd56396 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"bd56396\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"512\" src=\"https:\/\/mindbodyfoodinstitute.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/anthony-tran-3B6RfJQKBEM-unsplash-768x512.jpg\" class=\"attachment-medium_large size-medium_large wp-image-6171\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/mindbodyfoodinstitute.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/anthony-tran-3B6RfJQKBEM-unsplash-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/mindbodyfoodinstitute.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/anthony-tran-3B6RfJQKBEM-unsplash-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/mindbodyfoodinstitute.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/anthony-tran-3B6RfJQKBEM-unsplash-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/mindbodyfoodinstitute.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/anthony-tran-3B6RfJQKBEM-unsplash-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/mindbodyfoodinstitute.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/anthony-tran-3B6RfJQKBEM-unsplash-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/mindbodyfoodinstitute.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/anthony-tran-3B6RfJQKBEM-unsplash.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-1719dfc elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"1719dfc\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-71cb272\" data-id=\"71cb272\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-139ccee elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"139ccee\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>These thinking styles don\u2019t just impact our mindset, they shape our nervous system, relationships, and behaviour.<\/p><p>\u00a0<\/p><h4><strong>How to Stop the ANTs<\/strong><\/h4><p>The good news? You can learn to <strong>interrupt negative thought loops<\/strong> and rewire your brain for more supportive, empowering self-talk. Here are two effective approaches we teach at the MindBodyFood Institute:<\/p><ol><li><strong> Catch, Challenge, Change<\/strong><\/li><\/ol><p>A simple but powerful neuroplasticity tool:<\/p><ul><li><strong>Catch<\/strong> the negative thought as soon as you notice it.<\/li><li><strong>Challenge<\/strong> it: <em>Is this 100% true? Is there evidence against it?<\/em><\/li><li><strong>Change<\/strong> it into a more supportive, realistic statement.<\/li><\/ul><p>For example:<\/p><ul><li>ANT: <em>\u201cI\u2019m stupid. I can\u2019t do this.\u201d<\/em><\/li><li>Reframe: <em>\u201cI don\u2019t know how to do this yet, but I can learn.\u201d<\/em><\/li><\/ul><ol start=\"2\"><li><strong> Dr. Amen\u2019s 5-Step Formula<\/strong><\/li><\/ol><ul><li>Write down the negative thought.<\/li><li>Identify the ANT type.<\/li><li>Ask: <em>Is this true? Is it really true?<\/em><\/li><li>Notice how you feel with and without the thought.<\/li><li>Replace it with a healthier alternative.<\/li><\/ul><h4><strong>Why This Matters for Coaches and Practitioners<\/strong><\/h4><p>Learning to recognise and reframe ANTs isn\u2019t just helpful for yourself, because it\u2019s life-changing for clients.<\/p><p>As a holistic life coach or mind-body practitioner, you\u2019ll meet people weighed down by self-doubt, fear, and old patterns of thinking. Knowing how to identify, disrupt, and reframe these thoughts can help clients:<\/p><ul><li>Reduce anxiety and overwhelm.<\/li><li>Build resilience and self-worth.<\/li><li>Shift from fear-based thinking into possibility.<\/li><li>Create new neural pathways for lasting change.<\/li><\/ul><p>This is why our certification programs at the <strong>MindBodyFood Institute<\/strong> include practical neuroplasticity tools for working with automatic negative thoughts and limiting beliefs.<\/p><p>The next time you notice a negative thought crawling in, remember:<\/p><p><strong>It\u2019s just an ANT. You don\u2019t have to believe it.<\/strong><\/p><p>Become aware, question its truth, and choose a better replacement. In doing so, you will reclaim control over your mind, and your future.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-5c70a1ea elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"5c70a1ea\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-25 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-7e9943f7\" data-id=\"7e9943f7\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3c3b4ec8 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"3c3b4ec8\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"819\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/mindbodyfoodinstitute.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/MBFI-Director-V-819x1024.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-715\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/mindbodyfoodinstitute.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/MBFI-Director-V-819x1024.jpg 819w, https:\/\/mindbodyfoodinstitute.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/MBFI-Director-V-scaled-600x750.jpg 600w, https:\/\/mindbodyfoodinstitute.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/MBFI-Director-V-240x300.jpg 240w, https:\/\/mindbodyfoodinstitute.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/MBFI-Director-V-768x960.jpg 768w, https:\/\/mindbodyfoodinstitute.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/MBFI-Director-V-1229x1536.jpg 1229w, https:\/\/mindbodyfoodinstitute.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/MBFI-Director-V-1639x2048.jpg 1639w, https:\/\/mindbodyfoodinstitute.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/MBFI-Director-V-scaled.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 819px) 100vw, 819px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-25 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-47de4ab6\" data-id=\"47de4ab6\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-36d1eee1 elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"36d1eee1\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-57dbd949 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"57dbd949\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Author:\n<br>Viki Thondley<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-88abb5a\" data-id=\"88abb5a\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5fd7ce69 elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"5fd7ce69\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5a286de8 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"5a286de8\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>Viki Thondley-Moore is an Integrative Holistic Counsellor, Neuro-Somatic Coach, Clinical Hypnotherapist, Mind-Body Practitioner, Wellness &amp; Nutrition Coach, Meditation Teacher, Nervous System Educator and Disordered Eating Specialist. Viki is Founder\/Director of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mindbodyfoodinstitute.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">MindBodyFood Institute.<\/a><\/em><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Have you ever noticed how one negative thought can quickly spiral into ten more? You make a mistake at work, [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":3018,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_surecart_dashboard_logo_width":"180px","_surecart_dashboard_show_logo":true,"_surecart_dashboard_navigation_orders":true,"_surecart_dashboard_navigation_invoices":true,"_surecart_dashboard_navigation_subscriptions":true,"_surecart_dashboard_navigation_downloads":true,"_surecart_dashboard_navigation_billing":true,"_surecart_dashboard_navigation_account":true,"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"set","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[1700],"class_list":["post-17076","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-holistic-health","tag-automatic-negative-thoughts"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v26.6 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Automatic Negative Thoughts: How to Stop the ANTs in Your Mind - The MindBodyFood Institute<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Automatic negative thoughts (ANTs) can infest our mind, shape our beliefs, and sabotage our confidence. 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