Thoughts are just thoughts but they do have effects

It's comforting to know that thoughts are just thoughts and we can leave them at that, but they are still quite difficult. Particular thoughts have quite substantial impacts on our feelings and emotions. If I said I saw your partner kissing someone else in the window of cafe, then, if you believed me, you might experience a series of difficulties. If you have an underlying illness then these difficulties can lead to all sorts of problems that leave you feeling quite helpless.

So then, thoughts are just thoughts but that's just one part of the process. They still have the power to hurt like hell.