Stuck In My Head Constantly!

[ThinkPositive]

I really want to make this short, so people will read. I've had intrusive thoughts throughout my life when I was 6 and 21....they were always brought on by some irrational fear that I heard, thought about, or read.

I've been happy most of my life. Those thoughts only lasted for a month and then went away. Forward to age 30, I had some health anxiety that led to my first anxiety attack. From that day, I obsessed about my anxiety. Couldn't stop thinking about it. I would think that it would hit me at the worst times and sometimes it would.

I finally learned to manage anxiety, but back came the obsessive and intrusive thoughts. I might have a few good months and then all of a sudden I'm stuck in my head and can't get out.

I describe it as not living in the moment, I just don't get it. I fear I'll be stuck like this forever and then it goes away for months again. I just turned 32, and had my 4th anxiety attack and it led to being stuck in my head again...is it called ruminating? I hate feeling this way around my wife and kids.

I just don't even know what I'm obsessing about. Obsessing about obsessing? Obsessing about the anxiety of being stuck in my head? I'm almost positive that's what it is but it sounds crazy to me. When I'm not trapped in my head, I'm happy and living in the moment. When I'm in this state of being stuck, I'm okay, but at times feel very down and hopeless and it drives me crazy.

Anyone else have this? Just want someone to relate to and hoping you'll tell me some great things I can do to escape my head and live in the moment or learn to get passed this with practice and methods. Is this common for people with anxiety? Thanks!

 

[Cameron12345]

I know exactly how you feel! When I have a panic attack for a few days maybe weeks after I feel like I’m stuck in my head, like I’m almost a second person to myself. I have a hard time communicating with others when I’m in this state because it feels like I’m not there emotional or physically even tho I know I am. I don’t really have any tips for helping, what I do mostly is trying to deal with it, like when you hurt your arm or something yes it hurts and it’s there but you have to go on you can’t let it torment you all day. What I try to do is focus on something that’s very engaging, like painting or drawing. I trying to think of the future hopes I have and what life might bring.

 

[Brad66]

Do you meditate? You will learn how to let go of thoughts through it.

I struggled exactly as you described it but through meditation and adopting a healthier lifestyle I am able to dismiss the unwanted thoughts now and they no longer bother me. There a lot of things good diet and exercise help with that will have you thinking more positively. Letting go of thoughts and more positive thinking is the cure to unwanted thoughts and obsession.

It can get better but you have to work on it. You won't magically wake up one day and be "cured" of them.

 

[ThinkPositive]

I know exactly how you feel! When I have a panic attack for a few days maybe weeks after I feel like I’m stuck in my head, like I’m almost a second person to myself. I have a hard time communicating with others when I’m in this state because it feels like I’m not there emotional or physically even tho I know I am. I don’t really have any tips for helping, what I do mostly is trying to deal with it, like when you hurt your arm or something yes it hurts and it’s there but you have to go on you can’t let it torment you all day. What I try to do is focus on something that’s very engaging, like painting or drawing. I trying to think of the future hopes I have and what life might bring.

Do you meditate? You will learn how to let go of thoughts through it.

I struggled exactly as you described it but through meditation and adopting a healthier lifestyle I am able to dismiss the unwanted thoughts now and they no longer bother me. There a lot of things good diet and exercise help with that will have you thinking more positively. Letting go of thoughts and more positive thinking is the cure to unwanted thoughts and obsession.

It can get better but you have to work on it. You won't magically wake up one day and be "cured" of them.

Both of you are awesome. Thank you for the replies. Yesterday was a great day. It's not the best, but my escape is gaming. I did that to start my day, ran, watched some TV. I remember telling myself that I wasn't gonna fear those thoughts that day and it seemed to work.

Unfortunately today, it was back and really affecting me so I came on here.

I think my issue has been that I've always dealt with it and when work starts up, my mind is focused more on that and it temporarily goes away, sometimes for many months. But when it comes back I repeat the cycle again. I beat myself up over it, so like you said, I need to not torment myself and stop letting my thoughts spiral and stay negative. (Think that takes practice too)

I practiced some meditation two years ago when my anxiety started. That seemed easier to manage than this, so I started meditating again. I haven't been consistent with it, so I'll start. I hear meditating and mindfulness is the best cure or technique for management. I understand none of this is permanent, but it's hard not to think that way when you're stuck in your head.

Thanks again, it's nice hearing those techniques have worked for you. Gives me a boost of confidence. I'm off in the summer and had a busy June and start of July, sometimes I think his happens because I'm not as busy and neither is my mind.

 

[Brad66]

Yea an idle mind is often a bad thing. Just keep practicing healthy habits and accept the bad days with the good. Eventually you will stop adding any importance to the bad days and they will just come and go without much notice.

 

[ThinkPositive]

Yea an idle mind is often a bad thing. Just keep practicing healthy habits and accept the bad days with the good. Eventually you will stop adding any importance to the bad days and they will just come and go without much notice.

This is good, thanks!

I had about 7 or 8 pretty good days, followed by a rough night last night where I felt irritated and sad. My thoughts spiraled again and I had trouble sleeping and woke up at night with a really bad feeling. Had two drinks, so maybe the alcohol didn't help.

Quick question!

Do you meditate in the morning or night or both? When you had negative or intrusive thoughts would you stop and meditate? Or would you accept them for what they were and let them pass without judgement? Just wondering your specifics in your process! Thanks!

 

[ManaClash]

Over the last 5 months I've had a really bad time with Anxiety and intsruve thoughts. I've tried 8 different meds and even a trip to the psyward but nothing seems to help. It's gotten to the point that I don't even want to get out of bed because I can't deal with it.
I've been trying to meditate and think more positively but it's hard for me to let go. It feels like I'll never get out of it.
What kind of mediation do you guys do ? Any tips or tricks would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Mholt730]

For about the last month my anxiety has been at its absolute worst. And I have been having intrusive thoughts also and I think that’s what is making my anxiety go through the roof. May I ask what your intrusive thoughts are just to see if we have the same so then maybe I won’t feel like such a crazy person?

 

[ThinkPositive]

For about the last month my anxiety has been at its absolute worst. And I have been having intrusive thoughts also and I think that’s what is making my anxiety go through the roof. May I ask what your intrusive thoughts are just to see if we have the same so then maybe I won’t feel like such a crazy person?

Some aren't so bad. Just like what if I don't love myself or my family anymore. What if I don't love the things I used to love and am unhappy forever.

Then there's the hard ones about harming my family or myself because of the anxiety. But the best thing to remember is anxiety and intrusive thoughts is a mood disorder, not some psychotic disorder. Usually we have intrusive thoughts about the ones we love the most. Makes sense. I opened up to my mom and she told me she once read a story about a mom drowning her child and she had a fear and thought what if she did that to me? We're definitely not alone.