Does Anyone Else Have Really Trivial Preoccupations?

[justalitnerdxx]

There’s a lot going on in my life and the world (problem neighbours, ageing parents and autistic brothers, cost of living rises, war, covid etc). Big stuff that I guess are valid concerns. Rightly so take up mental space.

Yet today I’m overthinking if the new hair products I bought are the best for my hair or if I wasted money, and if it will be best financially long term and for the environment for me to switch to solely e-reading books as opposed to paper backs. It seems bonkers because there is major stuff going on and I don’t think I’m scared or worried about the trivial things like hair products and books, but then I guess I am obsessing about them because to my brain they are questions,problems, to be solved. Even though hair and books are meant to be joys! ‍ I give up. There’s probably no objective right answer so I won’t be able to know for certain what the best solution is. So I should let it go. But brain says “wrong!!” Keep on thinking and you’ll suss the answer out *evil laugh*”

 

[Phillies Phan]

My guess is that we can “solve” these little problems, giving us some sense of control. Not so with war, COVID, political tensions and the like.

 

[Lanchparty7]

I struggle with this as well…OCD has been raging as of late.

 

[OafFish]

I over think because I'm scared to act without thinking. It's a tightrope I walk all my life

 

[Jonathan123]

There’s a lot going on in my life and the world (problem neighbours, ageing parents and autistic brothers, cost of living rises, war, covid etc). Big stuff that I guess are valid concerns. Rightly so take up mental space.

Yet today I’m overthinking if the new hair products I bought are the best for my hair or if I wasted money, and if it will be best financially long term and for the environment for me to switch to solely e-reading books as opposed to paper backs. It seems bonkers because there is major stuff going on and I don’t think I’m scared or worried about the trivial things like hair products and books, but then I guess I am obsessing about them because to my brain they are questions,problems, to be solved. Even though hair and books are meant to be joys! ‍ I give up. There’s probably no objective right answer so I won’t be able to know for certain what the best solution is. So I should let it go. But brain says “wrong!!” Keep on thinking and you’ll suss the answer out *evil laugh*”

Over thinking can be a big problem in anxiety. Every little thing that we would normally take for granted becomes very important.
OCD can be like that. In that condition we may question everything. Being objective in anxiety is nigh impossible, because it is a very subjective and personal problem. We can sit back and look at ourselves and look for answers, but so often they don't come.
We get to be like a mouse on a treadmill. Round and round with our thoughts and getting nowhere. Buddhists talk about thoughts being like mad monkeys, ' swinging from branch to branch, sampling the fruits and abiding nowhere'. At the risk of boring the pants off everyone, we do come back every time to acceptance.

 

[justalitnerdxx]

Over thinking can be a big problem in anxiety. Every little thing that we would normally take for granted becomes very important.
OCD can be like that. In that condition we may question everything. Being objective in anxiety is nigh impossible, because it is a very subjective and personal problem. We can sit back and look at ourselves and look for answers, but so often they don't come.
We get to be like a mouse on a treadmill. Round and round with our thoughts and getting nowhere. Buddhists talk about thoughts being like mad monkeys, ' swinging from branch to branch, sampling the fruits and abiding nowhere'. At the risk of boring the pants off everyone, we do come back every time to acceptance.

it’s true, we do come back eventually. Not boring at all, thanks for sharing. It’s weird cause I never thought about me having OCD because I don’t have physical compulsions like constant cleaning or flicking switches but I do have mental obsessions that keep going around my head. I don’t see them as far fetched though, more about being convinced for a while I was gay or asexual, or questioning what hair products I use and keeping on buying more to find the perfect ones, worrying about my Dad being in a car crash, fearing I’m a bad person. I just assumed it was Generalised or Social Anxiety, but I don’t know now. I do skin pick a lot and sometimes zone out doing so.

My thoughts kinda feel like they spiral into each other and there’s no resolution ‍ Mouse on treadmill is an apt descriptor! Thanks for your comment and insights

I over think because I'm scared to act without thinking. It's a tightrope I walk all my life

Yes, acting without considering the outcome seems like such a dangerous thing to do. But I guess at times some spontaneity is needed

I struggle with this as well…OCD has been raging as of late.

Hope you feel better soon. I never considered myself as having OCD before though I’m guessing the racing and repetitive thoughts are something that is relatable to those with OCD.

do you also feel like your mind is going into overdrive with each thought swirling around whereas your body is tired? That it’s hard to unwind and relax because you think you should be thinking about an “issue” to solve the problem once and for all?

 

[Jonathan123]

The mind is very complex and very difficult to understand. We think of the mind being the brain, but I believe the mind is separate from the brain. The brain is an organ that processes commands from the mind, it's master. When the mind senses fear it sets in motion the fight/flight mechanism that is the brain's response to the command from the mind. We have little or no way of stopping this. It is the brains response to danger handed down to us by our caveman ancestors. But we do have control over what we choose to think.
It often feels that the 'we' that is trying to control is separate from the mind, but it is the mind. The mind is you. It's the accumulation of all you have learned, been told and believe. Now most of us are brainwashed to a great extent by what has been put into our minds by parents, siblings, teachers and everyone we have contact with. Most of it is lies. We go on believing these lies until someone comes along to tell us the truth. The biggest lie of all in anxiety is that you will never get well, and will have to learn to live with it or manage it. The mind can get into a habit of thinking in a certain way, sometimes without us seeing it. OCD could be described as a habitual way of thinking. Why can't the brain stop it? Because the mind allows it to go on and treats it in the wrong way, by fighting and struggling with 'IT'. So the brain continues to obey orders from the mind. We project 'IT' to something that is out to get us, so we try to run away in fear from 'IT' in our minds. Just as we would physically if some outside danger threatened. But we can't escape from ourselves, and this is where anxiety begins. We need to stop running away from our thoughts or trying to get rid of them. Facing the fact in our minds that we have a problem and accepting that fact helps. Instead of fighting 'IT' accept it as being a temporary thing that can be resolved given the right attitude. Not one of fear but of hope. NOTHING in anxiety is beyond recovery. I have seen people of forty years of suffering recover, given the right treatment. Anxiety is always an attitude of mind, an over reaction to events. Total acceptance is still the answer. It takes time and perseverance, but it does work. Is it not better to devote our time and energy to acceptance rather that fighting?

 

[justalitnerdxx]

The mind is very complex and very difficult to understand. We think of the mind being the brain, but I believe the mind is separate from the brain. The brain is an organ that processes commands from the mind, it's master. When the mind senses fear it sets in motion the fight/flight mechanism that is the brain's response to the command from the mind. We have little or no way of stopping this. It is the brains response to danger handed down to us by our caveman ancestors. But we do have control over what we choose to think.
It often feels that the 'we' that is trying to control is separate from the mind, but it is the mind. The mind is you. It's the accumulation of all you have learned, been told and believe. Now most of us are brainwashed to a great extent by what has been put into our minds by parents, siblings, teachers and everyone we have contact with. Most of it is lies. We go on believing these lies until someone comes along to tell us the truth. The biggest lie of all in anxiety is that you will never get well, and will have to learn to live with it or manage it. The mind can get into a habit of thinking in a certain way, sometimes without us seeing it. OCD could be described as a habitual way of thinking. Why can't the brain stop it? Because the mind allows it to go on and treats it in the wrong way, by fighting and struggling with 'IT'. So the brain continues to obey orders from the mind. We project 'IT' to something that is out to get us, so we try to run away in fear from 'IT' in our minds. Just as we would physically if some outside danger threatened. But we can't escape from ourselves, and this is where anxiety begins. We need to stop running away from our thoughts or trying to get rid of them. Facing the fact in our minds that we have a problem and accepting that fact helps. Instead of fighting 'IT' accept it as being a temporary thing that can be resolved given the right attitude. Not one of fear but of hope. NOTHING in anxiety is beyond recovery. I have seen people of forty years of suffering recover, given the right treatment. Anxiety is always an attitude of mind, an over reaction to events. Total acceptance is still the answer. It takes time and perseverance, but it does work. Is it not better to devote our time and energy to acceptance rather that fighting?

thank you for your insights, so helpful and hopeful!

 

[Vincent]

My OCD has been pretty bad at times. It wasn't in the form of compulsive behaviors, but of obsessive thoughts. I too went down a rabbit hole about getting an ebook reader or staying with hardcopies. Then there was the period of time that I got into aquariums and had to make decisions about that. I finally got tired of it and made it a point to keep things simple and minimalist. Less stuff is less stuff to obsess about.

 

[OafFish]

I can become obsessed with things, it's very hard for me to shake myself out of a certain train of thought

 

[justalitnerdxx]

My OCD has been pretty bad at times. It wasn't in the form of compulsive behaviors, but of obsessive thoughts. I too went down a rabbit hole about getting an ebook reader or staying with hardcopies. Then there was the period of time that I got into aquariums and had to make decisions about that. I finally got tired of it and made it a point to keep things simple and minimalist. Less stuff is less stuff to obsess about.

Thank you for sharing. I’ve read a whole book on Kindle and enjoyed it so have downloaded another to read. But I’ve still kept my papercopy books for now incase I change my mind again!

I never considered me having OCD cause I don’t fear contamination or have intrusive thoughts about hurting others. But the sticky thoughts over certain things seem to fit.

I can become obsessed with things, it's very hard for me to shake myself out of a certain train of thought

Yes it’s like we have to stay on the train until it stops. Except is never stops and keeps going in a circle

 

[E.B]

As someone who is very analytical, over thinker, and obsessive in certain ways...yes. Even when I know in my head something is ok and not a big deal I still ruminate on it while a few wonderful things may be happening or have happened that day.