The Racing Thoughts Won't Stop

[zeropoint]

For the better part of a week now, my head has been a terrible place to live because my thoughts are racing and relentless. Every thought leads to a spiral of insecurity where I second and third (and fourth and fifth) guess even my simplest thoughts. Sleep isn't any escape either. I don't have any med options left. Pot just helps briefly, and I don't want to get drunk.

Has anybody come up with good ways (maybe visualizations or writing exercises or something?) that help when your brain won't stop spitting out anxieties at you?

Thank you.

 

[Nam]

I don't have much advice here. When my mind goes there, sleep is my only answer and I see that sleep doesn't work for you. Maybe try to concentrate your mind on a task? Listen to a talk show? Listen to music while deep breathing?

 

[zeropoint]

I don't have much advice here. When my mind goes there, sleep is my only answer and I see that sleep doesn't work for you. Maybe try to concentrate your mind on a task? Listen to a talk show? Listen to music while deep breathing?

Thank you! Those things have helped, but they are just brief distractions. Then the siege begins again.

 

[Nam]

I understand. I really do. Usually lack of sleep does this to me. The voices get louder and louder until I can't really hear what any of them are saying. It's like I'm in the middle of a stadium with everyone yelling at me. Try these brief distractions while trying to go to sleep. Maybe take a hot shower before hand.

 

[TXbandit]

I'm in the same boat hun. I'm really interested to hear what others have to say about this. It runs me ragged trying to think of distractions for 18-20 something hours at a time. I can't sleep either and the only time I can is if I get drunk. I do not want to do that anymore. I've really cut back and have the hardest time sleeping these days which really gets my anxiety going in full speed. Weed does help sometimes but not always.

Thank you for bringing this up and I wish you the best :hug:

 

[falling_wave]

I use a self hypnosis sleep deeply app to have guided relaxation. It does help a lot at just have trouble doing it regularly because it gets repetitive. I think distraction and self care helps the most. When I'm really stuck in it I like to take a long hot shower with candles and relaxing music. The feel of the water, good smell, and relaxing sounds balance me out and my mind slows down. Writing all of your thoughts out through journaling also helps because once it's out of your head it's easier not to obsess. As far as meds lexapro helped a lot with that for the first 8 or 9 months I was on it and xanax is always good but I try to use it sparingly. I just discovered this herbal pill from Walmart called hylands nerve tonic and much to my surprise 2 pills stopped my obsessive thoughts which were quickly heading toward a panic attack. I was so excited because it's all natural and 5 bucks at walmart. Try to think ways to sooth all of your senses in whatever way works for you and if you can imagine your thoughts on bubbles that you blow and watch float away until it pops and let it go. Sometimes works sometimes doesn't but it's a good skill to work on. Feel better!

 

[falling_wave]

Also I have recently found that it helps to tell myself sometimes out loud while my mind is filling with anxieties that I am strong enough to overcome my struggles and I will get better..over and over. That's part of my anxiety that I won't and verbally reminding myself repeatedly that yes I can do this really helped my mind not run too far off. Oh and working out hard. There is this visualization you can try. Think a color for your negative thoughts and a color for positive thoughts take a deep breath all the way from your stomach. First visualize the negative color and all your anxious thoughts. Breathe out that color the switch the color in your mind and breath back in the peaceful color.