Help never ending thoughts

[kissmegoodbye]

id like some advice with a problem ive had for as long as i can remember.. i am constantly thinking and obsessing over things that have happened in the past, small details from every day average things and worrying about what people may think of me... i feel like my brain never turns off and its always been really messing with me but recently im getting so sick of it.. ill go over arguments or things i was sad about in my head like its happening all over again and i feel guilty, like i havent forgiven that person i argued with or havent really let it go,, my brain just doesn't let me forget it.. even for everyday stuff ill be going over the way i walked down the sidewalk and crossed the road and went up stairs and every person i saw on the way and the details inside buildings idont know it sounds strange.. its hard to focus and this all gets worse when i try to sleep and im not actively doing anything to focus on. it takes me about 3~4 hours of just lying in bed thinking non stop about such stupid things until i can sleep.. i dont know how to make it stop either ive tried many things. sleep medication, naming things i can see/hear/feel etc but even still i start overthinking on how im trying NOT to think it just drives me insane!!! if theres anyone else who struggles with this.. how do you deal or cope with it? i feel so exhausted because of my thoughts i just want to have a clear mind for once...
apologizes in advance if this doesnt make much sense.. i have issues with explaining myself the way it sounds in my head and ive been told i confuse people a lot T_T feel free to ask me to elaborate if its confusing,,

 

[VoidBlessed]

I relate to this a lot. It sounds like extreme anxiety - your brain is always activated. 2 things have helped, the first two are music and exercise. Whenever I'm super anxious I go for a long walk with music and that helps a lot. I also work out every other day and that's made my brain calm down a lot.

 

[mave-with-life]

Im sorry your dealing with this.. I understand how exhausting and unforgiving the cycle can be. For me sometimes it helps to create a calmer environment having a candle burning, a hot bath. Doing lots of minimal focus self care things to help be a little more in the moment. Small positive talk, sometimes music just makes it worse for me even something I used to find comfort and calming. As the thoughts come to my head I try to visually step back from them and let my breathing be the speed at which I pay attention to whats going through my head. If you like being outside thats another one of my go toos. a good walk isolated from people with trees is the best. though all the thoughts are still there I often try to feel the anxiety physically when I'm walking or exercising. Sometimes I get a impending sense that something bad is going to happen as well usally triggered by my thoughts. The past tends to be were I try to run from sometimes and only achknowledge the moment. sometimes its letting yourself worry without fighting it, though it can be very hard to find this passive acceptance or state of mind. I've also tried going into the notes app on my phone and paying attention to what exactly I'm worry about then typing out a more realtisc, kind, and open way to respond to such thoughts. For example I have to remind myself often being judged or looked at a certain way by others doesn't have to hurt who I am, if I can promise to myself to have love for me and not room for anything harmful someone could do, say or think of me. I also feel very confusing when I talk about these things or try to explain it. your not alone just keep doing your best to word it and you will find people who speak your language.

 

[gottacheckout]

What you said makes total sense, don't apologize for it. Maybe because I do the same thing I can relate and don't find it confusing at all.

During the day I try to keep busy with something that I need to concentrate on, doing research or a project helps. Or I go online and find things to do there. At night is the worst, just like you I lie awake for hours thinking. I've been working all my life trying to get my mind to shut off so I could sleep. It seems like I'm always working on it. A lot of the time it is about suicide. I work with my doctor on my medication and lately we had the suicidal thoughts quieted but just regular thoughts were still there. I just want something to let me get to sleep but he thinks it needs to quiet the voices. The latest attempt failed and I go back in in a couple of weeks.

One of the things I've tried and still do periodically is stay up until I'm really tired and then go to bed. Once in a while it works but more often I just wake up when my head hits the pillow.

I wish I had the answer but if you ever want to talk more about I'm here

 

[Mr. Snrub]

sometimes its letting yourself worry without fighting it, though it can be very hard to find this passive acceptance or state of mind.

It is very hard but it's probably the most useful method I've found to deal with intrusive thought cycles.

 

[ScarletTanager]

OP, it sounds like some tricky puzzles before bed or in the evening might help your brain pay attention to details and use them in strategic new ways. Maybe, I know it sounds silly, but books where solving or identifying, like "where's Waldo" type stuff, where you have to sort through many details and focus on the kinds of things you are naturally picking up on a daily basis anyway would be good.

 

[looking4partner]

id like some advice with a problem ive had for as long as i can remember.. i am constantly thinking and obsessing over things that have happened in the past, small details from every day average things and worrying about what people may think of me... i feel like my brain never turns off and its always been really messing with me but recently im getting so sick of it.. ill go over arguments or things i was sad about in my head like its happening all over again and i feel guilty, like i havent forgiven that person i argued with or havent really let it go,, my brain just doesn't let me forget it.. even for everyday stuff ill be going over the way i walked down the sidewalk and crossed the road and went up stairs and every person i saw on the way and the details inside buildings idont know it sounds strange.. its hard to focus and this all gets worse when i try to sleep and im not actively doing anything to focus on. it takes me about 3~4 hours of just lying in bed thinking non stop about such stupid things until i can sleep.. i dont know how to make it stop either ive tried many things. sleep medication, naming things i can see/hear/feel etc but even still i start overthinking on how im trying NOT to think it just drives me insane!!! if theres anyone else who struggles with this.. how do you deal or cope with it? i feel so exhausted because of my thoughts i just want to have a clear mind for once...
apologizes in advance if this doesnt make much sense.. i have issues with explaining myself the way it sounds in my head and ive been told i confuse people a lot T_T feel free to ask me to elaborate if its confusing,,

I relate to this :(

Unfortunately, I have not been able to try any treatments and the ones that I did try made it worse.

The Mindful Movement on YouTube used to help me. They have a video called "Clear the Clutter" and they guide you through "filing away your thoughts and putting them away or throwing them in the garbage in an office." Anyway, it would usually help me and I would feel more relaxed by the end of it. Just remember to turn auto play off or it will start playing a loud as soon as you are starting to feel calmer.

I think this could also be a trait of ADHD and I heard that some people with it were not helped by medications until they tried an ADHD medication which helped their anxiety better than the anti-anxiety medications that they had tried.

There are also types of OCD that are Pure-O and so people don't always realize they have it. Reassurance and regular therapy can make OCD worse because the treatment for that is opposite. It's called Exposure Response Therapy.

Another thing that sometimes helps me & I saw recommended s labeling the thoughts that I'm obsessing over. For example, if you keep obsessing about an argument you had, you can think "argument thought" to yourself. Sometimes, it helps pull me out of getting lost in those thoughts and brings me back to the present more when I do that. But I usually use it when I'm imagining worst-case scenarios. I haven't actually tried using it for past memories.

Listening to ASMR has helped me with falling asleep because I can listen to what someone else is talking/whispering about which helps me out of the loop better than trying to do it myself if that makes sense.

 

[SunnySideSummer]

I am in the same situation it's really hell :(