Stuck in a thought spiral? Science says saying your own name can snap you out of it

We constantly find ourselves drowning in our own thoughts on several occasions. Whether it's making a decision, feeling an emotion, or even just dealing with a situation, we can get to ourselves at times. The solution? Again, us, ourselves. We have the power to put ourselves in a spiral and also get ourselves out of it, says coach Jax Ardeneaux (@brautifullybeingyou). In her video, the woman explained how a simple change in perspective of language during self-talk can have a positive impact on our brain, thereby changing our flow of thought. What do you have to say? Your own name.

Ardeneaux explained that the way we address ourselves can rewire our brains, and this simple trick can be crucial in redirecting our minds. “Say your name in third person,” the coach suggested. Sharing an example, she used her own name along with reassuring statements. So, if you would casually say to yourself, “You’ve got this,” instead, say, “Jax (Your name), you’ve got this.” Elaborating on how this makes a difference, Ardeneaux revealed, “This is called distant self-talk,” and added that our brains process this differently than the usual internal chatter we have. 

She mentioned that saying our name out loud “lights up your brain,” particularly the prefrontal cortex, which is responsible for problem-solving. “It activates the part of your brain that helps you regulate emotion, stay clear, and respond from your values instead of your overwhelm,” she noted in her caption. In layman's terms, as the coach explained, what this does is take pressure off yourself and create a kind of distance to interrupt the loop. “You can literally shift your nervous system and improve your decision-making,” she added. 

According to Michigan State University, this helps because using the third person for ourselves allows us to take a step back and think of ourselves in the same capacity that we think of others. The woman also noted that “third-person self-talk” has benefits that are backed by research. It reportedly reduces stress, regulates the nervous system, and more. A study on 208 participants revealed that 21% noted they used distanced self-talk while they were “being critical of themselves,” and 20% used the method when they were “trying to make themselves feel better about something.”

Among those who use this method are professional basketball player LeBron James and Nobel Prize Winner and human rights activist Malala Yousafzai. Around 61% of the participants revealed that they use self-talk in different situations, especially when they’re feeling bleak or worrisome. So why not use this type instead of the others and actually bring a change? As Ardeneaux pointed out, “This is what rewiring your brain looks like — subtle, powerful, and completely within your control.” Many people who tried the method noted that the gentle approach works wonders. 

@jenleveque wrote, “I’ve been doing this my whole life — people think it’s funny when I refer to myself in 3rd person. Turns out I’ve been hacking my brain.” @yourfutureisnoww added, “I feel like my own real friend when I say my name out loud.” @tbagus26 shared how simple it can be: “Tom talks about himself in the third person all the time. People think Tom is crazy when he does this, but Tom knows that it really works!” 

You can follow Jax Ardeneaux (@beautifullybeingyou) on Instagram for more content on well-being and lifestyle. 

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