RE: Mindful Monday - Life As We Know It
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Get out of my head!!!!! Lol.
It's almost (?) like I wrote this post. Every single thing you mention is absolutely familiar.
I was actually planning to do a post on hypersensitivity, and that reminded me I had to come back to this post and read it - I had taken a quick look 2 days ago, but didn't have time to read back then. I made a mental note to come back... and then completely forgot. (A little contradiction for someone who overthinks everything, don't you think?)
An overthinker cannot be allowed to 'think'. How is that done? What I have been doing is telling myself to stop.
It's funny that you mention that.
A couple of weeks (months?) ago, I had a long and interesting conversation in the comments section of one of my posts about depression and overthinking. I've been meaning to try and find it again for a week or two, but I never took the time. Because you mentioned this, I went to look for it. Sad thing... I can't find it.
I thought it was @rycharde who mentioned it, but I just re-read our entire conversation, and it didn't seem to be in there (I did save it, because he said things I need to remember)
Such a shame that I don't remember who it was, but anyway,... in that conversation, that person gave me the tip to stop the overthinking by 'tricking' your brain. Every time you notice you're overthinking, throw some random nonsense in there. (How I wish I could find that comment again, because I would really like to be able to rephrase it.)
So, for the last two weeks or so, I've been trying it out. Every time I realize I'm doing it again, I start singing a pointless song, without words. Something like 🎶🎶 Ti, la,la,la 🎶🎶 (of course not out loud, lol)
So far, it helps. I can still 'hear' the thoughts in the background, but they are like whispers and I can't 'hear' the words. (OMG, this sounds really crazy - whoever reads this will think I'm a nutcase. 😅 But then again, maybe I am 😉)
One last thing, because I'm never going to get my post done if I keep rambling here: The 'Smile' message at the end really worked. It made me smile from ear to ear. So, I'm going to write it down in my 'happy-book', maybe even write it on a piece of paper and hang it on the mirror, so I will be reminded of it every time.
Thanks!
Maybe what you're thinking about is important - write it down. That's better than trying to "stop" it. Writing it down stops it going round in circles thereby freeing you to have yet another thought! ;-)
Mantras are good to stop the random chatter. Don't try them whilst driving.
I've been writing down a lot, after our conversation. And, most of the time, when I read what I wrote later, I realize I've wasted too much energy on something that wasn't worth it.
But the real overthinking starts when I have nothing to keep my mind busy, like in my car for example. It did happen a couple of times that I pulled over, took out my notebook and started writing, only to be late for my appointment, lol.
I realize that 'keeping my mind busy' when I'm at home, for example isn't the right fix for the problem - it's just a way to prevent it from happening. But for now, it's the best I can do
LOL... I told you I understood.
I have the same problem. It's just not 1 thought either it's like 10 all whispering all of the time. It's kind of amazing I can convey a written thought since so much just pops in and out. I think that's how I go off an crazy tangents. I'm at the point, I don't care if people think I'm crazy. I do think differently than others. I don't have to live my life to the confines of their world.
You'll find the comment. When you need to. It's funny how all of that works. How is the happy-book working? I've tried it a few times without success.
This is on my wall by my desk LOL
hahaha, awesome. I need to get me one of those! A lot funnier than all those boring, written affirmations I have now.
I completely agree on that one. I think differently, but I also look and dress different from most people, so even if I would be completely 'normal' (which I don't want to be, 'normal' is boring), people would still think I'm weird.
Well, I can hardly believe it myself, but that 'happy-book' has turned my world upside down. Just the simple act of writing down 5 things that made me smile that day has had some real impact on my perception.
You can steal this LOL. I found the basic of the kitty and went from there.
I have a notebook just for that which a friend gave me. I guess I should put it to use.
I had the notebook for more than a year before I started using it, lol.
I just booked my first success doing what @rycharde said. I wrote down the entire conversation that was going on in my head, and realized there actually was a simple solution.
I was overthinking, wrote it down and came to the conclusion that everything I was worrying about could be solved by sending a simple text message. Of course, it took me half an hour and a list of pros and cons before I actually managed to send the message, but in the end I did - only to find out I was making a much bigger deal than it was...
Baby steps are steps too 😂