• Replies 4 replies
  • Subscribers 6 subscribers
  • Views 600 views
  • Users 0 members are here
Options
Hints and tips
  • To quote someone's message, first select/highlight the relevant text, and then use the Quote button that appears
  • To "mention" someone, type @ followed by the start of the forum name, and choose from the list; that person will get a notification of being mentioned

Doom Thinking/Fantasising

Galaxy42

Hi folks.

I wanted to ask if this is a trait of Autism, just a me thing, or something that everybody does.

I spend a lot of my time imagining the worst things possible & how I would react/behave in those circumstances and I do mean the more dreadful things imageable including to my wife/children. I tell myself that I am preparing myself for if a terrible thing were to happen, but at the time they feel more like fantasising and I feel like I have zero control over these thoughts invading my mind.

I love my family, I want them to be safe & would dearly love to block these thoughts.

Does anyone else suffer with similar dreadful thought and do you have any techniques for stopping them?

  • I don't think it's a specifically autistic thing. People that struggle with anxiety etc will experience similar. Perhaps not about them doing something terrible to other people but thinking about the worst that can happen. Maybe all people do to some extent, I don't know. I think the thing with neurodivergency is though that we find it difficult to switch off or redirect our brains, making it really easy for these loops of endless thought.

    My thoughts are more worse case scenario rather than imagining myself doing anything. I'd love to have an answer that I can guarantee works. I've never had much luck with the usual suggestions of mindfulness and worry journals etc. Grounding techniques can help. Some people like the 54321 technique which is 5 things I can see, 4 things I can touch, 3 things I can hear, 2 things I can smell and 1 thing I can taste. I personally don't find this enough to change my thoughts. What helps me sometimes is to go through the alphabet and name things for each letter. I try to go for things that I'm interested in or things I find a good challenge so for me it's usually Harry Potter characters or countries. This isn't a long term fix, but can sometimes distract my thoughts away from the loop for a little while. Other than that trying to find something that will really engage my brain is the only other thing that ever helps. But it is again only a temporary solution, the thoughts always come back. 

    I'm currently waiting for further therapy on NHS. I've already done CBT which was not useful. So I can only hope that whatever is next can help some more. It may be worth looking into what therapy is available to you?

    I'm by no means qualified to diagnose anything but I just wonder from how you've described your thoughts whether you have any symptoms of OCD? I only ask as intrusive thoughts such as those you've described where you imagine yourself doing terrible things to those around you and those that experience say it feels very real at the time. I may be way off base but I just wonder whether it's something worth looking into?

  • Dear Galaxy42,

    Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts. As the other users have mentioned, overthinking/rumination tends to be quite a common trait for many of us. You might find the following pages useful:

    NAS Autism Services Directory - readers can use this directory to search for any mental wellbeing information, suggestions for techniques, and services in their local area that cater for autistic people. 

    NAS Mental Health - this page has useful information about the different traits associated with different mental health issues, and techniques one can practice to control their dreadful thoughts, feelings and feel psychologically safer under different circumstances.

    Please reach out to us if you would like more support or information.

     Kind regards,

    Good_Vibes365

  • I think a lot of people do this and its not confined to autists, I think everyone, when a loved one is 10 minutes late, have them invovled in a terrible accident, dead and burried, only for the person to walk through the door and be met by relief and anger.

    I think we do it to prepare for disaster emotionally and maybe physically too, I remember when I was younger people having a stash of tinned and dried foods in case of nuclear war, it was encouraged to be prepared.

    I think the best way of halting these thoughts is to remind yourself that these are just thoughts and have no substance or reality and that you don't actually live in the place where these things have happened, you live here and now where the peope you care about are well and happy and going about their lives. As much as its arrogance to believe the worst will never happen to you and yours, it's also arrogance to believe it will.

    I think this sort of disaster planing is common in people who've got PTSD, have had disrupted or chaotic lives especially in childhood, nothing feels safe or permanent and to believe it is to provoke the worst. I think we're all brought up with the idea of pride before a fall and it keeps many of us in mental chains unable to accept normality and that good things happen and happen to us and that it's OK and that we can believe it.

  • This is not uncommon for us, unfortunately.

    You might find these resources - and their practical suggestions regarding getting support - helpful:

    NAS (professional practice) - Autism and catastrophising

    NAS - Obsessive Compulsive Behaviour (OCD)

    NAS - Anxiety