A Weekly Newsletter from Nick Wignall

Reader Questions

Answers to questions sent in by readers of the newsletter

How Can I Control Bad Thoughts?

A reader asks: It’s hard for me to control my thoughts, especially the really bad ones. Like where I find myself wishing I wasn’t married anymore. Any suggestions for how to control my bad thoughts better? Your question hinges on two specific words you mentioned, bad and control.

Is Anxiety Contagious?

A reader asks: Is anxiety contagious? I’m pretty anxious and really don’t want to pass it on to my newborn daughter. Do you have any recommendations on this? First of all, certain temperaments and personality traits can make us more or less vulnerable to anxiety. And those can

How to Deal with Racing Thoughts in the Middle of the Night

A reader asks: I often wake up in the middle of the night with my mind racing (especially before an exam etc) what should I do with my mind? Should I try to stop thinking (is that possible) or clear the mind? Or think of happy memories (not always easy

Should Exercise Be Considered a First-line Treatment for Mental Health Conditions?

A reader asks: I saw an article the other day that said exercise should be considered the first line treatment for mental health conditions because research has shown that it’s as least as effective as therapy or medication. Do you agree? Or is that an oversimplification? It’s definitely

Emotional Thinker → Intellectual Thinker?

A reader asks: I’m mostly an emotional thinker and would like to move toward more intellectual thinking. Any advice? I’m going to assume that by “emotional thinker” what you mean is you tend to make sense of your experiences and make decisions based primarily on how you feel