It's true that *sometimes* distraction is the best option for dealing with hard emotions. Sometimes our negative or anxious thoughts are simply the result of too much time dwelling, spiraling, going over and over minuscule things and making them major. Examples of this include how solitary confinement (i.e. the ultimate lack of distraction) can ruin people's mental health, and even how mental health issues have risen amidst the COVID pandemic, due at least in part to being confined to ones' house, often alone. However, this coping strategy should be used sparingly, and not to avoid getting to the root of serious issues. "Bottling it up", as it's often put, doesn't get rid of the problems, but compounds them until they end up impeding daily life anyways, or causing physical damage (health issues caused by stress). Since emotions are often not under conscious control, it doesn't matter if you're not consciously dwelling on the issue; it will express itself somehow anyways. The only way to actually get to the other side is to allow yourself to feel the uncomfortable thoughts/feelings, validate them, and try to understand them.

It really depends on two things: how solvable your troubles are and how serious they are. If they are truly unsolvable (not just in your mind, but objectively, as in you've looked for guidance and help for months on end, and you've genuinely given it your 100% daily for weeks upon weeks) or not that serious, you should just brush it off. The most important problem that you can't brush off ever is not having any real friends. You must always have other human beings in your life who rely on you and you on them, otherwise you will have many, many small problems snowball very quickly.

I voted "agree," but after reading the two comments posted, I have mixed opinions. I sympathize with the scenarios listed... especially with COVID conditions, Sofia's mentioning of solitary confinement, and death. These are issues that are inconsolable in regards to "just keeping your mind off of it." However, for day to day troubles, such as my bike being stolen this morning (I wish I was kidding), I filed a police report and went along with my day. There's nothing more for me to do, so sometimes it's best to let the situation take care of itself if it is out of your control.

Depends on the person and what they're going through.

It depends on the nature and severity of what's troubling you. Being troubled means that your brain is telling you that you should be dealing with a problem right now. Whether or not it's within the realm of possibility for you to devise and implement a worthwhile solution is what will determine whether it's best to ignore or embrace the unpleasant feelings of being troubled.

Ummmm... We're combining 2 things here. Keeping busy with cheerful things is not the same as not thinking about things that trouble you. You're gonna feel what you're gonna feel. Don't fight it. Don't try to ignore it. Just deal with it.

Honestly I believe this is more true than it isn't. However, don't mistake cheerful distractions (which help reduce rumination) with dodging important issues. But often things like depression and anxiety can come from a non-specific cause that might not be something that needs to be addressed itself. That is, you might think you are sad or unmotivated because you are alone or unproductive or useless, but you might simply be depressed. And thus, simply thinking about your loneliness won't make you less lonely. Things like medication, physical activity, and behavior therapy, and yes, cheerful distractions, would be more beneficial.

Doing something productive can often help put you into a calmer state of mind so that it is easier to think rationally about the issue.