Negative spiraling is when we hear of think a thought that is negative and then it snowballs relentlessly toward cognitive disaster. It might start out with something like, “I never should have said that,” and spiral downward to, “I’m such an idiot; I’ll never get it right.” Our thoughts don’t seem to spiral in a positive way like they do in a negative way. It’s harder than it sounds to arrest the process but it is possible with a heightened awareness and a willingness to change.