How to stay calm with psychiatrist’s ‘rule of 12’ that’s guaranteed to help when ‘everything is going wrong’

A top psychiatrist has shared his trick for staying calm when things go wrong – and it help you develop a healthier mental state.

Dr Daniel Amen, from the US, said he practices his ‘rule of 12’ to cope when difficult things happen. 

The doctor said he stays calm when 12 things go wrong during an event like going on holiday or moving house, and only expresses his anger after the 13th snafu. 

He said he tells all his patients to adopt the rule so they can ‘roll with’ the difficult things that happen throughout life and stay ‘psychologically healthy’ and ‘mentally strong’. 

‘I want to talk about the rule of 12, it is something I teach all of my patients and it really honours the fact that s*** happens, you just have to be okay with it,’ Dr Amen said.

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Dr Daniel Amen (pictured) has shared his rule of 12 he said can help those who practice it ‘psychologically healthy’ and ‘mentally strong’

He said he came up with the idea during a two-week European holiday he went on with his family to celebrate his wife’s birthday. 

‘I went 12 things are going to go wrong and I’m not going to get angry or scream or yell or become a jerk until the 13th thing goes wrong,’ Dr Amen explained. 

‘And indeed six things went wrong and I didn’t get upset at all.’

Dr Amen said he keeps a list on his phone of the issues that arise to keep track. 

‘The more you honour the fact that difficult things happen and you can roll with it the more psychologically healthy you are,’ he said.  

Dr Amen said to he stays calm when 12 things go wrong during an event like going on holiday, moving house or a work project and only expresses anger after the 13th snafu (stock image)

Many of Dr Amen’s 2.3million online followers praised the advice and said they would start trying to use the rule themselves. 

‘Watched this and immediately spilled a litre of Gatorade all over my nightstand and floor. So, good timing?’ one viewer laughed. 

‘I like this. My tolerance to adversity is pretty low,’ a second said. 

‘I do this travelling. I know I’ll always forget one thing, so I just accept it as part of the trip,’ a third said. 

‘Murphy’s Law. Just be excited and grateful when things go right. I think focusing on being thankful or grateful is extremely helpful,’ someone added.