In the ICU, I’ve seen how something as small as a blood clot can travel through the body, creating massive destruction. But I’ve also seen how small thoughts or emotions can follow a similar path, moving unnoticed through our minds, until they create havoc. Today, I want to share the story of a patient with a migrating thrombus that moved through a patent foramen ovale. And as we follow the journey of this clot, I want to draw parallels to how negative thoughts can do the same in our lives.
The Path of a Clot: From Tiny to Catastrophic
Most doctors have seen a DVT—a small clot made of platelets and fibrin. It looks insignificant, but it has the potential to become something much more dangerous. The path it takes can lead to organ damage, ischemia, or even death. I once treated a patient with a patent foramen ovale, and this tiny clot found its way through the opening, moving from one side of the heart to the other.
This clot, depending on its path, could have caused a sudden cardiac arrest, a heart attack, or a stroke. It was like watching a tiny time bomb, waiting to explode. And it reminded me so much of the small negative thoughts we experience every day—thoughts that seem insignificant, but have the potential to create chaos.
Negative Thoughts: The Virchow’s Triad of Life
Just like a clot forms because of Virchow’s Triad—vascular injury, stasis, and hypercoagulability—negative thoughts follow a similar pattern in life.
1. Trigger (Vascular Injury):
Negative thoughts often start with a small trigger—an argument, a criticism, or a moment of insecurity.
2. Idle Mind (Stasis):
When the brain is idle, it has room to grow these thoughts, building them into something far bigger than they initially were.
3. Increased Sensitivity (Hypercoagulability):
If you’re already stressed or emotionally sensitive, you’re more likely to let these thoughts take over, just like how certain bodies are more prone to clotting. These can even be as simple as lack of sleep, hunger or physical or mental exhaustion.
The Danger of Unchecked Thoughts: My Own Struggle
I’ve seen firsthand how small negative thoughts can build into something much bigger if left unchecked. I’ve had moments where a small incident—a disagreement or a tough moment—turned into an entire day of emotional chaos. My idle brain gave those thoughts space to grow, and my stress levels only made things worse. It wasn’t until I became aware of these thoughts that I could stop them from causing further damage.
Awareness: The Key to Stopping the Spread
Just like a clot can be caught early with the right awareness, negative thoughts can be stopped if we catch them before they grow. The first step is to recognize them, then recircuit them with something positive before they can cause emotional or mental harm.
Small Things, Big Havoc
Whether it’s a clot moving through the body or a negative thought traveling through the mind, both have the potential to create massive damage. The key is awareness—catching them early, redirecting them, and stopping the chaos before it begins.
And please do think of what thoughts are you letting grow in your mind ? Are they helping you elevate your energy or they pulling you down ? Think about those moments of emotional breakdowns and turmoils and identify what was the trigger , what caused you to become sensitive and which thoughts began the vicious cycle ?
Stay balanced, stay healthy, and remember—small thoughts can create big breakthroughs if we control them before they control us.
Dr.Krishna Bharath, MD.
The Journey of an Unchecked Clot: When Small Thoughts Create Massive Havoc