Negative thinking has been linked to increased stress and anxiety. Recent research has shed light on how this mindset can impact both mental and physical health.
Researchers from Amen Clinics, which focus on brain health, analyzed brain scans and cognitive data from close to 20,000 patients with anxiety disorders. This study involves Dr. Daniel Amen, a psychiatrist and co-author of the research.
According to Dr. Amen, individuals exhibiting a stronger negativity bias demonstrate diminished blood flow in critical brain areas, like the frontal, temporal, and parietal lobes. He pointed out, “The degree of physical brain abnormalities was notable, especially in regions not traditionally linked to emotional processing, such as the cerebellum.”
Those with this negativity bias were also found to experience significantly higher levels of depression, anxiety, suicidal thoughts, emotional instability, and memory issues. Dr. Amen remarked, “Not only did the mood symptoms worsen, but they also compromised actual thinking skills, especially memory and resilience.”
The research’s findings appeared in the journal Depression and Anxiety. The researchers articulated their view that mental illness should be regarded as a brain disease. “We fly blindly in psychiatry until we start looking at our brains,” they emphasized.
However, it’s worth noting some limitations of the study, particularly its cross-sectional design; this means data was captured at a single moment rather than tracking progress over time. Dr. Amen explained, “This study shows associations rather than causality. Negative bias is correlated with dysfunction, but it doesn’t explicitly cause it.”
He underscored the need for better brain health and a more optimistic mindset, saying, “If you want to take mental health seriously, you need to look at your brain.”
He pointed out that realizing you’ve fallen into negative thoughts might indicate that your brain requires assistance. Dr. Amen described negativity bias as a neurological pattern, going beyond just having a “bad attitude.” “It’s a pattern that can lead to significant cognitive and emotional disruptions,” he noted.
While the study did not explore possible solutions, Dr. Amen mentioned that practicing daily positivity could be advantageous. He shared suggestions such as exercise, meditation, omega-3 intake, gratitude journaling, and deep breathing, all of which might help to gradually reshape negative biases in the brain. “The good news? The brain changes—but only if we start to pay attention to it,” he said.
