How to Get Out of Your Head

"Many of us get stuck in our heads, ruminating. Developing our metacognition skills (a key executive function skill) can help us work on getting less stuck in our heads over time. Metacognition is the ability to reflect accurately on our experiences so we can learn lessons and carry those lessons forward. It's actually a very complex executive function skill with many steps, so if this is hard for you, you are not alone."

"To determine if metacognition skills are a strength or a challenge, assess how much you agree with the following statements or not (Dawson & Guare, 2016). Statement 1: You routinely evaluate your performance and develop methods for personal improvement. Statement 2: You can step back from a situation and make objective decisions. Statement 3: You are a big-picture thinker and enjoy problem-solving."

"There are two primary ways we get "stuck" and struggle to access our metacognition skills. 1. Cognitive Distortions The first way we get stuck in our heads is through cognitive distortions. There are many cognitive distortions that our brains engage in, often subconsciously. We usually developed these routine ways of thinking and feeling when we were younger, as our brains sought to simplify reality so we could understand it."

Many people experience getting stuck in their heads and ruminating. Developing metacognition — the executive function skill to reflect accurately on experiences — can reduce rumination and help carry lessons forward. Metacognition involves many steps, so difficulty with it is common. Self-assessment using statements about evaluating performance, stepping back to make objective decisions, and big-picture problem-solving can indicate metacognitive strength. Two primary barriers to metacognition are cognitive distortions and other brain processes. Cognitive distortions are routine, often subconscious thinking patterns formed early to simplify reality and commonly include patterns like black-and-white thinking.

Read at Psychology Today