Indecision and over self-controling

Hi all, 

Looking to see if anyone has had or does have a similar experience to what I'm going through at the moment.

It's like every decision I try to make comes with a huge amount of internal monologue and thoughts about if it's the "right" or "best decision" or not. Or "what does this mean about me" if I choose this. This can be about really ridiculously simple things. A prime example being yesterday when I was upset and tired. I went to my bed to try and calm down, I then thought about going back down stairs to do something but really just wanted to lay back down in bed. This led to a huge amount of internal debate over "if I layed back down would that make me lazy?", "no your being stupid your tired", "but there's better and more productive things to do", "but youll not be able to do them properly becuase your tired". This sort of arguing with myself in my head but at a much faster pace, a lot more self critical and it all gets so loud and busy. Then I start to feel bad that I can't even allow myself to make a harmless simple decision, such as laying down in my bed.

It's like I'm trying to over control myself, like I can't just allow myself to be or trust that I'll get the things done I need to eventually and I'll meet my goals in time. Does anyone else get like this? The more I think about it the more I see how I've been like this for a lot of my life in so many areas. It's exhausting. 

  • think part of it is perfectionism

    Yes 

  • I have days exactly as you describe and today was one of them. Feeling guilty fir going to lie on the bed. 

    Why do we do this to ourselves? Is it our lack of ability to understand hiw we should be? I dont know. I remind myself things can wait, there is no hurry, but then i wonder if i am copping out? I bet there are times when you have done so much like me, but we firget these times. 40 years of working hard, which felt like i was operating on 50% and swimming against the tide. So isnt it ok to niw take a rest when needed? 

  • I have to be quite strict with myself in order to prevent regression and taking the easy option, so I have to justify being kind to myself in any way

    This is exactly it! It's like I have my own growth and development that I'm concerned with, trying to be more responsible and not take the easy options. Which is a good thing. But I'm overly stringent with it.

    Thank you for sharing this, you've made me feel like I'm not alone! 

  • Me too. Shattered as a result. When even the most minor choices require that much thought, it makes the bigger decisions paralysing.

     

    I think part of it is perfectionism and a fear of not being able to cope with the consequences of getting something wrong. But for the type of example you gave, for me I think it is that I have to be quite strict with myself in order to prevent regression and taking the easy option, so I have to justify being kind to myself in any way. This has quite negative results, as hobbies and interests have gradually been abandoned because they are not immediately making me more productive or a better person. Clearly, this is a very narrow definition of ‘better’, and is short-sighted in many ways, so I am making an effort to not overthink doing small things that make life happier. There is always that voice double-checking that I am not indulging myself too much, but I am trying to listen to it once in any small decision and then move on. Trying, not always succeeding!

  • Trust  your gut feelings, trust your instincts, and just go with them. That's what I was always told.

    Ben