Overactive mind

Page 1 of 2 [ 25 posts ] Go to page 1, 2 Next

Joined: 31 Mar 2008
Age: 37
Gender: Male
Posts: 957
Location: Chicago

27 Dec 2009, 10:54 pm

I can't ever seem to stop thinking and analyzing my mind is always constantly going. It never stops. A psychologist once told me at the rate I think I've probably done more thinking in 20 years then most people do in a lifetime. She also said it isn't healthy to think that much and that she's suprised I'm not insane.
Is anyone else like this?

makuranososhi
Veteran
Veteran

Joined: 12 May 2008
Age: 48
Gender: Male
Posts: 5,805
Location: Banned by Alex

27 Dec 2009, 11:14 pm

*raises hand*

If I could stop the racing mind, I might actually sleep more than a few hours here and there.

M.

_________________
My thanks to all the wonderful members here; I will miss the opportunity to continue to learn and work with you.

For those who seek an alternative, it is coming.

So long, and thanks for all the fish!

MathGirl
Veteran
Veteran

Joined: 11 Apr 2009
Age: 33
Gender: Female
Posts: 3,522
Location: Ontario, Canada

27 Dec 2009, 11:38 pm

Oh yes... When I've overworked my mind during the day, it can take forever for it to unwind once I've gone to bed. I start thinking through all of the details of the day, replaying everything in my head down to the smallest nuances, making connections and analyzing. By the time I've thought through everything I possibly can, it's usually between 4 and 6 o'clock in the morning.

_________________
Leading a double life and loving it (but exhausted).

Likely ADHD instead of what I've been diagnosed with before.

MrLoony
Veteran
Veteran

Joined: 12 Jun 2009
Age: 38
Gender: Male
Posts: 2,298
Location: Nevada (not Vegas)

27 Dec 2009, 11:57 pm

I can't stop thinking. Likely, it's the reason why I have such trouble with switching to a polyphasic sleep schedule.

Edit: OK, not entirely true. I do sometimes completely space out.

_________________
"Let reason be your only sovereign." ~Wizard's Sixth Rule
I'm working my way up to Attending Crazy Taoist. For now, just call me Dr. Crazy Taoist.

tttnjfttt
Blue Jay

Joined: 26 Dec 2009
Age: 43
Gender: Female
Posts: 95

28 Dec 2009, 12:43 am

you mean you are supposed to be able to stop thinking at times? The only way I can fall asleep at night is either by watching a very familiar TV show (usually a bones or house episode that i've seen repeatedly) or I read until I literally fall asleep reading.

leejosepho
Veteran
Veteran

Joined: 14 Sep 2009
Gender: Male
Posts: 9,011
Location: 200 miles south of Little Rock

28 Dec 2009, 1:19 am

MartyMoose wrote:

... and that she's suprised I'm not insane.
Is anyone else like this?

Absolutely, and I would not want to be any other way even though other people's mental sloth (as I sometimes see things) can get close to maddening.

_________________
I began looking for someone like me when I was five ...
My search ended at 59 ... right here on WrongPlanet.
==================================

Aimless
Veteran
Veteran

Joined: 1 Apr 2009
Age: 68
Gender: Female
Posts: 8,187

28 Dec 2009, 5:59 am

As far as getting to sleep I used to be until after anti depressants. Now I don't consciously stop thinking but I am able to become detached from my thoughts and thoughts become images and images become dreams. When awake I can't imagine not thinking.

_________________
Detach ed

SilentScream
Velociraptor

Joined: 7 Dec 2009
Age: 54
Gender: Female
Posts: 405
Location: UK

28 Dec 2009, 7:00 am

I have a friend like that. Nothing stops her thinking, not even drinking until paralytic drunk. So now she uses her excess capacity to help others.

MartyMoose
Veteran
Veteran

Joined: 31 Mar 2008
Age: 37
Gender: Male
Posts: 957
Location: Chicago

28 Dec 2009, 7:24 am

tttnjfttt wrote:

you mean you are supposed to be able to stop thinking at times?

Its what I've been told but I can't imagine what its like

SirLogiC
Deinonychus

Joined: 31 Dec 2007
Age: 42
Gender: Male
Posts: 350

28 Dec 2009, 9:08 am

I stop thinking when I'm reading, of course I'm hyper-focused when I'm reading

The only time I want it to stop though is when I go to bed. If only my mind would shut up and just rest it wouldn't take hours to get to sleep. Better yet I wish I didn't need sleep to function, so that I can think all the time

MrLoony
Veteran
Veteran

Joined: 12 Jun 2009
Age: 38
Gender: Male
Posts: 2,298
Location: Nevada (not Vegas)

28 Dec 2009, 9:16 am

SirLogiC wrote:

Better yet I wish I didn't need sleep to function, so that I can think all the time

It's not perfect, but polyphasic sleep can get you a few more hours of thought each day... if you can adjust to it.

_________________
"Let reason be your only sovereign." ~Wizard's Sixth Rule
I'm working my way up to Attending Crazy Taoist. For now, just call me Dr. Crazy Taoist.

Vyn
Veteran
Veteran

Joined: 18 Oct 2009
Age: 38
Gender: Male
Posts: 1,070
Location: The fires of the mind

28 Dec 2009, 9:16 am

I have tried several times to stop thinking, through meditation, force of will, what have you, and it just doesn't work. The mind is ALWAYS moving and doing it constantly, rapidly, and unceasingly. It's very very frustrating at times, and very wonderful at others.

But damn if it doesn't make sleep difficult and things much much more stressful.

_________________
I am Jon Stewart with some Colbert cynicism, Thomas Edison's curiousity, wrapped around a hardcore gamer sprinkled very liberally with Deadpool, and finished off with an almost Poison Ivy-esque love/hate relationship with humanity flourish.

Jellybean
Veteran
Veteran

Joined: 20 Apr 2007
Age: 37
Gender: Female
Posts: 2,795
Location: Bedford UK

28 Dec 2009, 4:56 pm

I get this and for me its mainly caused by anxiety. I have OCD and so I hear a constant stream of thought. When that's stopped, I get mental coprolalia (involuntary swearing) which is just relentless. I AM going mad!

_________________
I have HFA, ADHD, OCD & Tourette syndrome. I love animals, especially my bunnies and hamster. I skate in a roller derby team (but I'll try not to bite

)

wigglyspider
Veteran
Veteran

Joined: 23 Apr 2009
Age: 39
Gender: Female
Posts: 1,306
Location: WA, USA

28 Dec 2009, 6:46 pm

tttnjfttt wrote:

Me too. Or I daydream. Like, I've got one that I continue every night. It works like a book.

"you mean you are supposed to be able to stop thinking at times?"
I know, right?? Is that really what happens, do people actually stop thinking??

_________________
"You gotta keep making decisions, even if they're wrong decisions, you know. If you don't make decisions, you're stuffed."
- Joe Simpson

Lecks
Veteran
Veteran

Joined: 11 May 2009
Age: 38
Gender: Male
Posts: 4,987
Location: Belgium

28 Dec 2009, 6:59 pm

That seems impossible, to stop thinking.

"Cogito ergo sum" comes to mind, if you stop thinking, do you cease to be until thoughts magically reenter your mind?

mechanicalgirl39
Veteran
Veteran

Joined: 6 Apr 2009
Age: 35
Gender: Female
Posts: 2,340

28 Dec 2009, 8:22 pm

Yup. I'm very prone to sleep problems due to my mind never shutting up.

I used to have this really badly as a preteen kid, I would literally sit thinking all night and not sleep at all.

I am much better now but it is still there.

_________________
'You're so cold, but you feel alive
Lay your hands on me, one last time' (Breaking Benjamin)

Page 1 of 2 [ 25 posts ] Go to page 1, 2 Next

Jump to:

Overactive mind Post Reply New Topic

Overactive mind