Thoughts can feel so real
Just because thoughts feel real, doesn't make them real.
Our mind can make things feel so consuming, so overwhelming.
When we question everything. It doesn't even make sense, but it does. It feels so real.
Our brain hates unanswered thoughts, but not everything has an answer or reason. And that sends us deeper, spiraling. trying to find reason and meaning in something that has no meaning.
Like I could do this. I physically could. It's such a deep and consuming thought but it is still just a thought. It doesn't make you bad or dangerous. Thoughts are just thoughts. Even when they are consuming and so so real. They are thoughts. Thoughts don't require action.
Thoughts can be consuming without being meaningful
A thought can feel urgent, consuming, real, terrifying and still be just a thought.
They can be repetitive and looping and feel so real.
Our mind can make thoughts feel so real.
Recognizing these thoughts.
When you notice yourself looping, spiraling, or getting lost in such deep thoughts you got to pause and notice it. You got to think is this thought meaningful, or just a looping thought.
Like hey, I'm spiraling right now. I'm digging into questions that have no answer.
You got to remember that these are just thoughts, even though they feel so real.
Try to ground yourself.
Name things you can see, touch, hear, smell. Describe things, Name anything ex:(animals starting with B)
Try to control your breathing. Focus on breathing in and out.
Tapping your fingers. Make patterns, focus on that.
Write. Write everything on your mind, anything you're questioning, or thinking about. Don't look for an answer. Realize that it has no meaning, no answer. Just a thought.
Go into a different room, go outside, or be around people.
(Don't let yourself get lost in your mind)
Try to shift your attention. (Read, do chores, don't sit with your thoughts)
Count backwards or forwards by 5,10,20, etc..
Talk to someone, anyone, about anything.
Look at an object and study it. focus and think about something else.
Stretch, go on a walk, do something else.
@randomxxx
What a beautiful, supportive, thoughtful post, such kindness, thank you for sharing 💚🤗
This is so important!
Sometimes my thoughts are looping (or however you say it) and even if I notice it, it starts another loop: “Why do I even want to escape these thoughts? Why am I trying to be happy?” Well, quite often I manage to still distract myself, but not always. And even if I can lead my mind to another topic, I still feel like I could fall back into these loops again any second and that scares me. Any advice?
Anyways, thank you! ☺️✨
@Butterfly723389 Sounds like trying to stop one question opens up another. Mabey try writing the questions down. Just to get them out, it might help your head stop spinning. When your questioning everything just take a second and think if the thoughts even useful at all, or if its just circling your mind. I hope this helps💜🫂
Thank you. I do write down some of my thoughts, but I never tried writing down those questions. Gotta try that next time 😅🫶
@randomxxx
You defined overthinking in ways many think of over and over again. Thoughts, analysis, questions with no andwers. Predictions, anticipations of actions not necessarily happening. Its just the way our minds are set to know to exist. I have managed to slow them down gradually by doing things I will enjoy like listening to music, driving, going to the gym. Yes doing chores helps but be careful of falling in the trap of doing it to exhaustion. Thats not the aim. Silence can be at times overwhelming as its just the voice of your thoughts that can be heard. Writing them immediately can help alot. With time you are building up skills that you didn’t know you have. Shake these thoughts off, dance your *** off and go to sleep. Dress up, go for coffee and read a book. You have a beautiful mind that can act weird by thinking nonsense :)
@randomxxx honestly for the past few weeks, ive been having some disgusting and quite disturbing thoughts about a topic, and it has been really affecting me; to the point that i genuinely cant study, and i just start crying. Ive also noticed how it always seem to latch on to anything else, as if its just trying to stay and it would NOT let go no matter what. I keep trying to find solutions but the thing is, most of them are advising me to just let the thought roam around without giving it any attention or any meaning. But I just seriously cant, because it feels like the thoughts wont disappear and that they're just gonna stay and progress even more. It honestly really sucks because feels like im just avoiding help and that Im just doing it to myself.