Depression - Reflectd - bringing psychology studies to life

Overthinking: Common Questions (and Answers) from Therapy

Simon Moesgaard — Fri, 12 Jun 2026 08:41:01 +0000

Overthinking often lurks beneath the surface of the struggles people bring to therapy. Yet we rarely pause to ask: What do we hope to gain by thinking so much? Most people don’t overthink because they enjoy it. They do it because it feels useful: a way to prepare, avoid mistakes, or find certainty in uncertainty. […]

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The Self is Not a Private Project: The Hidden Cost of Self-Focus

Simon Moesgaard — Wed, 21 Jan 2026 08:12:44 +0000

Modern psychology sometimes treats the individual mind as if it exists in a vacuum. Thoughts are analysed in isolation. Emotions are framed as personal deficits. Distress becomes something happening inside the person. But this view is historically naïve. Philip Cushman’s classic article Why the Self Is Empty (1990) reminds us of something uncomfortable: the way […]

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‘Emotional Dysregulation’ is Related to Five Metacognitive Beliefs in Children, Meta-Analysis Shows

Simon Moesgaard — Wed, 07 Aug 2024 11:23:56 +0000

A new meta-analysis by Thingbak and colleagues (2024) finds that metacognitive beliefs are related to emotional dysregulation in children and adolescents, aged 7-18 years, in a sample of almost 10,000 participants. The same has been found in adults. The following quote may help you grasp the idea of metacognitions, and why they are so important […]

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Physical Activity Should Be a Key Component in the Treatment of Depression and Anxiety, Review of 1000 Trials Shows

Simon Moesgaard — Thu, 11 Apr 2024 19:33:04 +0000

Is physical activity really as effective as antidepressants and psychotherapy for treating symptoms of depression and anxiety? The largest review so far, summing up the results of over 1000 studies (all randomized controlled trials), shows that the effects of physical activity on symptoms of depression and anxiety are similar or even slightly better than the […]

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Inside the Mind of a Metacognitive Therapist – Part 6 Thought Control and Overthinking

Simon Moesgaard — Tue, 16 May 2023 09:58:08 +0000

As a metacognitive therapist, I meet people who try to control their thoughts and feelings in various, sometimes creative, ways. People who try to get rid of certain thoughts, people who try to suppress their anxious feelings, people who try to get piece of mind by seeking answers that can bring their minds to peace. […]

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The Perfect Paradox: Chasing Perfection Makes You Feel Worse and Procrastinate More, Research Shows

Simon Moesgaard — Thu, 13 Oct 2022 10:01:50 +0000

When we feel self-inadequacy, we might try to do more as an attempt to feel better about ourselves. This, however, might result in a vicious cycle characterized by high self-standards that are difficult to live up to, which in turn contributes to even more self-inadequacy in the long run. We may strive to feel better […]

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Think Less to Overcome Depression, New Treatment Paradigm Suggests (Why You Should Know About Metacognitive Therapy)

Simon Moesgaard — Wed, 29 Jul 2020 02:00:00 +0000

A new study by psychologist Pia Callesen, published in the reputable journal Scientific Reports in Nature (2020), shows that Metacognitive Therapy is way more effective in treating depression than usual treatment. The study is interesting as the treatment represents a whole new way of understanding and treating depression, which is why I refer to it […]

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Write Down Your Thoughts to Become More Mindful and Consciously Aware

Simon Moesgaard — Thu, 09 Oct 2014 18:28:26 +0000

Do you make shopping lists? Do you use your calendar for planning? Or do you otherwise tend to write down your thoughts? Good! Writing things down can help you become more mindful and consciously aware. When we write things down, we clear our minds. I make shopping lists, not because I can’t remember what to buy, […]

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People Who Are Consciously Aware of Their Emotions Deal With Them More Effectively, Study Shows

Simon Moesgaard — Sat, 27 Sep 2014 08:56:33 +0000

People who are consciously aware of their emotions deal with them more effectively. This idea is supported by a recent survey study by Claudia Subic-Wrana and co-workers (2014) of almost 2,000 participants (a representative sample of the German general population). In the study, explicit emotional awareness (the ability to express one’s emotions verbally as feeling states) was […]

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A 100-Year Old Word Repetition Technique is Effective in Reducing the Impact of (Negative) Words

Simon Moesgaard — Mon, 22 Sep 2014 19:28:27 +0000

Repeat the word milk for 45 seconds or more (remember to say it out loud), and you will find that the word begins to lose its meaning. It’s called the Milk Milk Milk exercise, and it is just one of many word repetition exercises. Try it yourself before you read any further… did the word milk lose its […]

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