Unfortunately, it can be difficult to control negative words that come from the mouths of others. It is possible, however, to recognize a behaviour pattern of negative self-talk and make positive changes.
The first step to positive change in any situation is to identify patterns that are destructive. This is especially true when it comes to negative self-talk. Negative self-talk is irrational, but sounds truthful in the mind of the person engaging in it.
People who suffer from anxiety, depression or stress are frequently unaware of negative self-talk habits. A person may simply find himself in a state of perpetual avoidance. A person in this state takes fewer risks, often out of fear of being rejected. He may shy away from social situations, avoid friends and eventually be afraid to leave the house.
Sometimes a person sabotages relationships in an effort to keep from being hurt. Eventually a vicious circle ensues. This leads to avoidance of situations that may lead to rejection. The more a person perpetuates avoidance, the more he engages in negative self-talk. This ultimately results in a severe battering on self-esteem.
People dealing with these issues share some common traits. Those who recognize one or more of the following tendencies or characteristics may be suffering from anxiety related to negative self-talk:
* Loved ones and close friends have pointed out a problem. Those closest to us sometimes see us better than we see ourselves. If someone you love and trust is concerned about your mental health, take it to heart. Don't be offended. Instead, recognize it as their way of trying to help you help yourself.
* Frequent panic attacks. Panic attacks can be scary, especially if you've never had one before. Sometimes people who suffer from panic attacks mistake them for heart attacks or other physical illnesses. Panic attacks are very real, physiological responses to stress. Symptoms include rapid heartbeat, chest tightness, sweatiness in the palms and even nervous twitches or tics. A panic attack in and of itself is not harmful; however, it does indicate a deeper problem.
* Other physical symptoms. Headaches and nausea may be related to anxiety. Do you experience these at the prospect of a social situation or prior to an event such as flying in an airplane? This may be indicative of deeper issues.If you find yourself engaging in negative self-talk, you are not alone. Weigh your thoughts against these seven Socratic questions:
1. What is the evidence for this feeling?
2. Is this always true?
3. Has this been true in the past?
4. What are the odds of this outcome really occurring or being true?
5. What is the very worst that could happen?
6. Am I looking at the whole picture?
7. Am I being fully objective?
The validity of your negative self-talk has nothing to do with how attached you are to the statements or how ingrained they might be. Rather, it has to do with whether they stand up under careful, objective scrutiny. Applying these seven questions to potentially stressful situations can help you more objectively evaluate your misgivings. Eventually, you may be able to weed out negative self-talk altogether.
There are a variety of types of teeth whitening gel kits that you can use at home. These kits are available in all price ranges, but the beauty of home kits is that home whitening treatments are often cheaper than professional whitening done by your dentist. You must keep in mind that the home whitening gels can be less effective and can even cause lasting damage if applied incorrectly. On the other hand, they can produce fabulous results at a low cost.
How Do I Select the Best Teeth Whitening Gel?
If you have decided that you want to try out teeth whitening at home, here are some questions you will need to ask yourself before selecting a product:
1. How much money am I willing to invest in the whitening gel kit?
Teeth whitening gels range from a little more than the cost of a tube of toothpaste to $200 or more. However, the whitening effects of the lower cost products might be able to produce the right amount of whiteness that you are looking for. The format of the product might be influenced by cost. For example, teeth whitening strips, such as Crest Whitestrips are cheaper than brush on gels such as the GoSMILE whitener. Also remember that once your teeth are white and bright, you will need to spend even more to maintain that new shine. This might mean having to buy maintenance and upkeep products from the teeth whitening gel line you used, or investing a little more in whitening toothpastes.
2. How much time am I willing to invest in getting my teeth their whitest?
Each teeth whitening gel kit will tell you how long it will take to achieve the results that you desire. With most kits you should start to see results in just a few days. But to achieve the final results could take from 10 days to two weeks. So think about how long you are will to commit to a daily teeth-whitening routine. As mentioned before, there will be maintenance involved as well. Depending on the whitening gel kit you purchase, there might be specific recommendations for maintaining your new whites. Are you willing to stay on a maintenance schedule as long as necessary?
3. How soon do I want to see results?
As discussed above, each whitening gel kit will have its own specified time for producing results. So decide if you want or need to see results as soon as possible or if you can wait a little longer. If you have a large embarrassing stain on your front tooth you might want to get rid of it as quick as possible! Keep in mind that the faster the results are, the stronger the product is.
4. Do I have extensive staining on my teeth?
If you do have a lot of stains or extensive yellowing of your teeth, then you will need a stronger product and you might have to use it longer. You might even have to go through two or three kits to get your teeth their whitest!
5. Do I have sensitive teeth?
Home teeth whitening gel systems typically use a peroxide bleach based formula to induce whitening. First, it is important to follow the instructions explained provided with the kit in order to avoid unexpected results. Also, you want to be careful when using the teeth whitening formula because it can cause sensitivity in your teeth. If you have sensitive teeth, then you will definitely want to choose the least strong whitening gel. Of course this will mean it will take longer to achieve the whiteness you want if you cannot use stronger formulas. This might mean that you have to commit yourself to a kit that takes longer to whiten.
As you went through the questions above, did you see that they are all inter-related? You want to see results fast, but you have sensitive teeth and cannot use the stronger products. Or you have a small budget, but extensively stained teeth which will need more than one kit! Yes, the choice can be difficult. But in the end you will basically need to select what is the most important for you that will get the results you want. It might take extra effort to work on whitening your teeth a little harder, or even suffering through sensitivity that might be caused by stronger gels. Just think about your new smile and how that will make you feel! It is not easy, if it were then everyone would have bright, white smiles!
So remember to really think about what you want to accomplish before purchasing a teeth whitening gel. Careful thought can save you money, work more efficiently for you and give you the best result.
Both Liz Labrum & Ann B. Larue are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Liz Labrum has sinced written about articles on various topics from Marketing, self improvement and motivation and Stress Management. Liz Labrum, Master NLP and hypnosis practitioner, teaches business owners and executives how to turnaround stress.Visit and complete the free as. Liz Labrum's top article generates over 8100 views. to your Favourites.
Ann B. Larue has sinced written about articles on various topics from Stress Management. Are you a Bright Smile Guru? If you think so, then take our at. Ann B. Larue's top article generates over 480 views. to your Favourites.