I wrote this blog post while I was on holiday in Ibiza a few weeks ago but I couldn't upload it at the time due to lack of internet connection so I am uploading it now instead.

In our everyday lives we tend to get caught up in our emotions. Obviously this is a very natural thing to do, however it becomes a problem when we get so caught up in it that we allow it to effect how we view ourselves and let it take complete control of how we feel and act.

We are driven by our emotion which can also strengthen our opinions and get us caught in a cycle of believing things we think about ourselves are a fact.

A fact is defined as being something that has evidence to support that it is true. A fact is indisputable and is rational.
An opinion is defined as being a personal view or belief, it is arguable and is usually driven by emotion.

If you start to view something which is your opinion as a fact it can lead to impulsive actions which can become damaging. Especially in terms of your mental health.

Acknowledging that many of our own thoughts about our bodies/ ourselves in general are actually an opinion rather than a fact can make it less likely for us to allow it to effect us and become distressed by our thoughts. If we see that a lot of our thoughts are actually an opinion it makes it easier for us to rationalise things and make calmer more thought out decisions.

It is helpful to ask yourself is what I'm thinking an opinion or a fact?

For example… If you text a friend or family member and they don't respond you might instantly jump straight into thinking they're being rude or you've done something to upset them and they don't want to talk to you, which may lead to consequential actions, when in reality the only fact out of the situation is that you haven't had a response yet everything else is an opinion.

The next time you start to have negative thoughts about yourself ask yourself if its really true or if thats just in your opinion and most of the time you'll realise you aren't rationally thinking and your harshly critiquing yourself over small things that don't matter/ other people don't see.

The technique of questioning if things are a fact or opinion is something that I learnt whilst in therapy and I hope that by discussing the techniques I personally found helpful it can help any of you that are reading this.

                                                                  Lorna
                                                                    xxx