mind stories

[olivia10]

Hello everyone!

My name is Olivia, I'm a 26 years old student and I am writing this in the hope of seeking help with what I am dealing with.

To start with, I have always been an introvert person, constantly analising and interpreting what others people did or said. I used to make tons of scenarios in my mind about how things could have been, even how would have been if my loved ones died.. this scared me a lot, but when I was realizing I have to stop, I was already caught up in this thought.

To change that, I chose to go to another city for my university studies. In 6 years, every summer and the last 3 years I went to many countries to do internships. I always thought that moving somewhere abroad, it's a chance of reinventing yourself. Everyday I was travelling, I couldn't enjoy almost anything because of these constant thoughts of imagination. I usually care a lot about people and I attach quickly, so everytime Ieft a place, it left a huge void in me and it didn't help at all with being present in the moment.

For 2 months now, I feel even more this constantly increasing pressure on me, I've become really sensitive to everything and I am affected by insignificant things. I haven't gone out, I cried every night and I have been alive in these made up stories more than in real life and I don't know how to not get caught up so much in this.

Please let me know if anyone is or has been through this and I am really thankful for any kind of advice of support.

With love,

Olivia

[Hidden]

Welcome Olivia,

You will find that the people here are kind, caring, and supportive. I am sorry you are struggling.

Sincerely,

Delta

[Rpan]

This way of thinking can become somewhat like an addiction. It can even become an obsession of sort. It’s a pattern that is made to protect us, than it becomes consuming. Don’t get hung up with changing it, focus on learning another way to stay in the moment. I learned a mantra,every time I catch myself in this pattern I label it as “thinking” I change my thought to a feeling(focus on my breathing) than I go back to being in the moment. Meditation is a must, it brings us back to the moments. I can’t stress enough, don’t try to change it, just start adding other ways to gain your attention, the more you add,the less this pattern will seem consuming.

[JumpingFrog]

The more you do something the easier it becomes, it creates a neural pathway in your brain, escaping from danger your brain rewards you so it becomes easier to follow that train of thought. You can change that by asking yourself why do I think that? I used to think like you do. I thought people didn't like me yet I'd hardly spoken to them. Imagine them being kind or use mindfulness to imagine kindness to them. It really helped me. It's not an overnight thing and will take time. Your not alone.