Why It's So Hard to Stop Intrusive Thoughts—And What Actually Helps

Why It's So Hard to Stop Intrusive Thoughts—And What Actually Helps

Author: Pushkin Industries October 22, 2019 Duration: 38:48
The Happiness Lab with Dr. Laurie Santos
SocietySociety & CultureCultureFitnessHealthHealth & Fitness

How many times have you tried to suppress an unwanted thought, only to ruminate on it even more? Research shows that the brain reacts to attempts at thought suppression by repeatedly checking for the thought, making it stronger and increasing our distress. Dr. Laurie explains why our minds work in this paradoxical way—and explores the science behind intrusive thoughts, bad memories, and mental control. Through stories of real people who have confronted and overcome disruptive thoughts, she shares how acceptance, attention shifts, and self-compassion can lead to less stress and greater happiness.

Experts Mentioned:
- Daniel Wegner, Professor of Psychology, Harvard University
- Eve Ekman, Senior Fellow, Greater Good Science Center
- James Pennebaker, Professor Emeritus of Psychology, University of Texas Austin
- James Gross, Ernest R. Hilgard Professor of Psychology, Stanford University

Resources Mentioned
- "When the Antidote is the Poison: Ironic Mental Control Processes," (Psychological Science, 1997)
- "Paradoxical Effects of Thought Suppression," (Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 1987)
- "The Putt and the Pendulum: Ironic Effects of the Mental Control of Action" (Psychological Science, 1998)
- The Eichmann Trial
- "Disclosure of Traumas and Health Among Holocaust Survivors," (Psychosomatic Medicine, 1989)
- Opening Up: The Healing Power of Expressing Emotions by James Pennebaker (1997)
- "Antecedent- and Response-Focused Emotion Regulation: Divergent Consequences for Experience, Expression, and Physiology," (Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 1998)
- "Delayed Costs of Suppressed Pain," (Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 1993)
- "Not in Front of the Kids: Effects of Parental Suppression on Socialization Behaviors During Cooperative Parent–Child Interactions," (Emotion, 2019)
- "The Four Noble Truths," (BBC, 2009)

Related episodes of "The Happiness Lab":
- "Q: 'How Do I Stop Negative Self-Talk?' (with Ethan Kross)"
- "Emotions Are Data…So Listen to Them"
- "Hack Your Emotions (with Ethan Kross)"
- "How to Handle Change"
- "How to Fight Perfectionism"

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.


We often chase after things we believe will bring us joy-the next promotion, a perfect vacation photo, a bigger house-only to find the feeling is fleeting. The Happiness Lab with Dr. Laurie Santos digs into the surprising psychology behind why our instincts about happiness are so frequently wrong. Dr. Santos, a Yale professor, doesn't just offer vague self-help advice; she translates the rigorous research from her record-breaking university course into practical, actionable science. Each episode feels like a personal conversation, where she breaks down complex studies and shares stories from people who've applied these lessons, revealing how counterintuitive changes in our daily routines and mindset can have a profound impact. This Pushkin Industries podcast moves beyond the surface of wellness trends, offering a grounded look at what genuinely improves our well-being across our social lives, personal health, and cultural expectations. Tuning in, you'll hear not just theory, but the tangible steps you can take to rewire your habits, backed by evidence that often contradicts our modern chase for more. It’s a refreshing take that makes the science of a better life accessible and genuinely useful, episode by episode.
Author: Language: en-us Episodes: 261

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