Can't Make It Stop

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Does anyone ever get a disturbing mental image or idea in their mind, in vivid 3-D color and clarity, and then no matter what you do, it won't go away? I've had this very distressing thing in my mind all day, and feel actually nauseated and distressed. It's kind of like when one has a nightmare, and it stays with you all day, or even for days on end. How do I get this to stop? It's driving me nuts!

Ummm....My instinct is to suggest trying to replace it with a different more pleasant mental image to focus on. It's tough to stop focusing on something disturbing if you're focused on making it go away. Maybe you can instead try 'crowding it out' by focusing on something else.

sometimes i find it useful to actually let the image come for a little while - the image itself is never as bad as the fear of the image, and it is, after all, only in my head. this way i can think about for a little bit, and ask myself what is it about this images that scares me. after i work through it, it goes away. i no longer have to try to keep it out of my head, that is so exhausting.

sqeezle, you are actually a very wise woman.

pardon me if you do not identify as female, ok?


Merle

This happens to me when I see a picture of anything really disgusting. It gets stuck in my head and I have to try really hard to focus on anything else.

I used to a lot, but I don't anymore. I don't know why. A lot of things have gotten better as I've aged.

Well, thanks for the input. I tried some Bach Flower Remedies, and I think it really helped. The image grew less, and I found myself able to slowly calm down.

thank you! this really took me off guard because i don't usually think of myself as wise. i have just thought of myself as someone dealing with a truckload of personality quirks (at least that is what i thought before i knew about AS) who is trying to find some tools so that i can function happily and peacefully in my world. i guess that is a form of widsom, thanks for helping me see that.

and, yes, i do identify as female

This is an ongoing problem for me. I try to do something else that will absorb or distract me. My yoga Master says let the thoughts pass and know that they are gone. It is much easier to let them pass now than when I was younger. If all else fails, I take a tranquilizer.

Yes one time. I was on a forum a few years ago and as a joke someone posted a link to click that was supposed to be for one thing, but it actually led to an infamous internet picture of this "girl" who shall remain nameless, lest some hapless soul looks up the name of the file. It has to be one of the most disgusting and disturbing things I have ever seen and I could not get it to go away for a good 24 hours. At least they got banned though.