Anna Geary's game plan for a positive mindset

In an exclusive extract from her new book, former Cork camogie captain Anna Geary explores the psychology of negative thinking and suggests strategies to stop the downward spin

Anna Geary at home in Co. Kildare. Photograph Moya Nolan

A negative thought loop occurs when our mind latches on to something and keeps mulling it over and over without any real benefit. It could be something as simple as a comment online or an offhand response from a friend, and it starts to play on a loop in your head, and each time it loops, the reaction of stress kicks in again.

You spend the day in turmoil, only to go online later and see that the person has replied and apologised for being crabby, explaining it had nothing to do with you, or your friend has texted to see if you want to meet for a drink because she’s had a bad day. So, you’ve wasted the entire day analysing your friendship, or thinking terrible things about yourself for no reason. You catastrophised.