Hi, This is probably going to be a weird sounding post but it's been a consistent problem for a few months now. I have generalised anxiety and depression and my mind can be a stressful and anxious place. Don't really know how to start with problem but here goes... So I'm currently learning to drive and had a thought in my mind once before a driving lesson about my instuctor. Not in any meaningful way just a random thought, anyway I had a thought come across my mind where I thought, what would happen if the thought of him never went away? I know this was an anxiety thought and have had many thoughts like this but always got over it. However this time was not that time. I haven't got any feelings or anything or there's no reason why I'm thinking of him but that anxiety thought has come into play and now he's for some reason stuck in my mind. I've tried so many things to get rid of the thought but it just doesn't go away.. Sleep sometimes will but then I'll remember the thought almost straight away. I did have a similar problem once with a celebrity but I ended up getting over that eventually. It's been constant for a few months now. Just looking for advice on what I can do I don't wanna go to the doctors with such a weird problem. I know I'll eventually get rid of it and I've tried accepting that I've got the thought and it'll go away but it just sits there in my mind it's like it's glued in my mind. It's there all the time but sometimes I come to moments where I'll just think 'did I just forget about it then or not' I know I have control over my mind but I just can't get over this. It's been happening abit more since I've had this problem but I forget about other situations more often than this. Sorry for the long post but any advise would be appreciated thanks.
hi luke
this is not uncommon
its all anxiety and racing thoughts
maybe you need something to help you
Hi luke,
They say the more you try and not think of something the more you actually do. I am terrible for doing it myself. It is because your probabaly starting your day thinking. I hope i dont think about him today. Then you have already put that thought there in your mind x
Ive been through this for years. I finally learned that when that happens, your attitude towards it is the most important thing that will either prolong it or help it to calm down.
if you get upset about the thought, your brain thinks you are in danger and it will send out adrenaline which increases anxiety and the thoughts you dont want.
Take a relaxed matter of fact attitude such as " Oh that thought is back. oh well, it will go away, no big deal "
then do something else. dont overthink about it. you can even make light of it. I have even laughed to myself. this relaxes your brain.
remember, the thoughts WONT hurt you, you are in control, the thoughts are not a part of you even though they come from you.
take care! Theres a great audio on you tube called Detachment from Overthinking .