Why Your Mind Goes Back to Negative Thoughts and Why That’s OK

Dr Joanne Younge | GMC BABCP
Apr 9
3 min read

Updated: 28 minutes ago

Guest Post by Dr Joanne Younge

A hand-drawn watercolor illustration of a wheatfield with two paths, representing the CBT metaphor for neuroplasticity. A young person with a backpack and a meerkat on their shoulder (representing their anxiety) stands at a crossroads between a well-worn, flattened path and a new, unformed route. — *Lapse vs. Relapse: Why stepping into an old path is just part of the journey*

If you’ve ever done Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), you’ll know the moment:

you catch yourself thinking the same old negative thought about yourself. Again!

“I’m not good enough”

“I always mess things up”

“Nothing ever works out for me”

And just as quickly, another thought follows: "I should be past this by now".

But here’s the truth—going back to those thoughts doesn’t mean you’ve failed. It means your brain is doing exactly what it has learned to do.

The Brain Loves Familiar Paths

Think of your thoughts like a path through a wheatfield.

Over time, every repeated negative belief, every self-criticism, every doubt, has walked the same route again and again.

That path becomes clear, flattened, and easy to follow. It’s familiar. Automatic.

So when something triggers you, your mind naturally heads down that well-trodden route. Not because it’s true. Not because it’s helpful. But because it’s practised.

CBT doesn’t erase that path overnight. Instead, it helps you begin building a new one.

Creating a New Path Takes Time

Now imagine stepping off that old path and trying a different direction.

At first, it’s uncomfortable. The wheat is tall. The ground is uneven. You might even lose your way.

That’s what challenging negative thoughts feels like:

“Maybe I didn’t fail—I’m still learning”

“This doesn’t define me”

“I can try again”

These thoughts don’t feel natural yet because they’re not well-worn.

They require effort. Intention. Repetition.

And here’s the key: every time you choose that new route, even briefly, you are strengthening it.

Why Your Mind Returns to Negative Thoughts: Going Back Isn’t Failure

It’s important to understand this: returning to old negative thinking patterns is not a step backwards- it’s part of the process.

In fact, noticing that you’ve gone back is progress.

Before CBT, those thoughts might have gone unquestioned. Now, even if you follow the old path for a while, you can pause and say:

“Ah, I recognise this. This is that old route”

That moment of awareness is powerful. It creates choice.

FAIL = First Attempt In Learning

There’s a simple reframe that can help here:

FAIL = First Attempt In Learning

Every time you catch yourself in a negative belief, you are:

Learning what triggers you
Learning how your mind responds
Learning where your old paths lie

And each attempt to shift, even if it feels clumsy or incomplete, is part of building something new.

Be Patient With the Process

New mental pathways don’t appear fully formed. They are created through repetition, compassion, and time.

Some days you’ll walk the new path with confidence; other days, you’ll find yourself back on the old one before you even realise it.

Both are part of change.

So instead of asking:

“Why am I still like this?”

Try asking:

“What can I notice here?”

Because the goal isn’t perfection. It’s awareness, flexibility, and gradual change.

A Gentle Reminder

You are not your thoughts. You are the person learning to respond to them differently.

And every step, either forward, sideways, or even back, can still be part of moving ahead.

About the Author

Dr Joanne Younge is an Associate Specialist in Old Age Psychiatry and a BABCP-accredited CBT Therapist based in Belfast.

Uniquely qualified as both a medical doctor and a cognitive therapist, she provides holistic health care that integrates physical and psychological well-being.

Registered with the GMC (General Medical Council) and the BABCP (British Association of Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapies), Dr Younge specialises in anxiety, depression, and memory‑related or dementia concerns.

Website: www.youngegoals.co.uk