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Stuck in a thought groove

Deleted User

How do I get out?

I've been here time and time again.  The groove gets deeper which makes it harder to change track. All I need to do is change track.

I do things to distract myself. That helps temporarily but then I fall back in to thinking about it.

  • in reply to Autimator

    I do. I go "thinking about. ...again" and it brings me back to the present.

    I suppose at the moment it just requires more power because it's so strong. I understand it's about chipping away and forming better habits cos you can't stop thoughts! 

  • in reply to Ann :)

    It's the whole "don't think about elephants!" scenario isn't it. A lot of the time I don't even realise I'm thinking about said thoughts.

    Mindfulness does help...it accumulates and builds. I've just been so heightened lately it's been really difficult.

  • There are various techniques, mindfulness can help and distraction, but your brain will try to focus back on your thoughts and feelings, that is why it difficult to reduce them.  If you focus on your thoughts and feelings and engage with then they can keep coming, and you program your brain to keep you engaged - you have to put focus away from the thoughts, to have a break, then the thoughts will reduce for while.  It takes time to develop a habit not to engage with them.

    if you should 'STOP!' in your head, that can help, or 'I'm not interested in these thoughts', or choose your own phrase to start a new habit that you don't want these thoughts, only useful ones you need to think.  

  • I would like to know the answer to this too... the more you try to stop thinking about it the more the thoughts come up. I have also tried distraction (with limited success- audiobooks can help sometimes but I can now just shut out the audiobook and focus on my thoughts instead...) and tried meditation (visualising a place where I felt calm and happy- only recently tried this so not sure if it is effective).