Why do I keep focusing on things that don’t matter?

Hi

This isn’t as deep as it sounds, lately I’ve found myself being really fixated on things that, at the moment, do not matter. They will matter EVENTUALLY but not soon enough for me to be as focused on them as I am. For example: I’m in college, will be moving home in may for the summer. I am OBSESSED with finding a job for one reason, I have a tattoo appointment at the end of June and want to make sure I have money. But applying for a job right now is like WAY too early cuz I’m looking at retail jobs/simple customer service job and I’m pretty confident I’ll be able to find a job the week I get home. But despite knowing all of that I have SO much anxiety that I just focus and focus on applying for jobs and finding jobs and not having a job yet is stressing me out so much. Example 2: Next year I’ll be living in a new dorm. I’ll be fortunate enough to be a single person living in a double room (2 beds, 2 desks, 2 wardrobes) I won’t be moving in until AUGUST. I am insanely stressed about figuring out how to lay out my room to fit the two simple things I want (a nightstand and my tv in front of my bed). I have fixated on this so much I have MULTIPLE drawn out diagrams in my phone. Again, I know I shouldn’t worry about it now but I can’t stop.

Why am I doing this? How do I make it stop?

Parents
  • I’m like this. I overthink everything to the point where I get massively stressed and tired. I get stuck on one topic and obsess over it. 
    I’ve been really struggling with my mental health recently and as a result have been reading about things like mindfulness, meditation, Bon and Buddhist religion etc. Many of the things I’m reading about I think might help with my frantic mind - so I need to try them. I’m in my fifties now and I wish I’d tried to get help earlier with the way I think and how anxious I get. I’d recommend anyone to try and find good strategies when they’re younger - because frankly after years and years of struggling with my autistic related anxiety, inflexibility and overthinking etc I'm exhausted. It takes it’s toll on you after many decades. It’s no way to live. 

Reply
  • I’m like this. I overthink everything to the point where I get massively stressed and tired. I get stuck on one topic and obsess over it. 
    I’ve been really struggling with my mental health recently and as a result have been reading about things like mindfulness, meditation, Bon and Buddhist religion etc. Many of the things I’m reading about I think might help with my frantic mind - so I need to try them. I’m in my fifties now and I wish I’d tried to get help earlier with the way I think and how anxious I get. I’d recommend anyone to try and find good strategies when they’re younger - because frankly after years and years of struggling with my autistic related anxiety, inflexibility and overthinking etc I'm exhausted. It takes it’s toll on you after many decades. It’s no way to live. 

Children
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