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Making up problems

Expecto_Patronum

I'm not this is an autism thing, possibly more of an anxiety thing but I'm aware many people here also share this difficulty. I am terrible for making up something to be worried about and then it locking in as a problem and not being able to stop worrying about it.

Today someone in work made a suggestion they thought would be helpful. I said no but didn't explain why. The person didn't push it and that was the end of the conversation. But I've now completely convinced myself because I didn't give an explanation that tomorrow this suggestion will be forced upon me.

I'm aware this is ridiculous and a waste of energy and am making myself feel for rubbish for no good reason. I've tried so many things to stop my brain spiralling in these situations. I try to distract myself, I try to rationalise, I try to show myself there's more evidence against this thought, I've tried writing it down. I really don't know what else I could to stop these endless spirals. As if I don't already worry about enough of life without adding made up worries to the mix!

Does anyone else struggle with this? Has anyone ever found a strategy that actually works to stop it?

Parents

  • Yep, me too.

    I believe that this called "rumination" and experience has it to be a component of personal anxiety and depression.

    In my experience the solution is to find a way of resolving the anxiety and depression.

    Hehe as easy as that...  Of course not!  

    Anyway what seems to work for breaking the rumination process for me is...

    First one needs to recognise one is engaging in rumination and I believe that by writing this you have acknowledged this

    Doing something actively demanding breaks the thought process.

    A wise person told me once that if there is something that troubles one and something can be done about it then do it.  If not then tell oneself that when the opportunity arises to do something about it then one will.  E.g. coming up with something one may do to address the concern.

    It is said also that observing the experience without judging it helps - if like me you are habituated to being hard on yourself this doesn't come easy...

    I think that this is the domain of cognitive behavioural therapy and have found this helpful.  The tricky thing is that like any therapy one needs someone who not only understands the analysis and techniques involved but is also able to impart this skill to others.

    If there was one thing I'd be quick to dump from my personal mental repertoire it would be rumination - I wonder though that if I did so my capacity for "deeper" thought would be lost...

    Anyway...

    Best wishes

  • in reply to Phased

    I have done CBT and I didn't find it helpful. One of the things they talked about was acknowledging the thought and letting it pass. How on earth you are supposed to do that, I never found out.

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