Can't even have a quiet drive

[JAFOman]

So many negative self hating thoughts already just during the drive to work. Stuck because if I try and force them out they seem to stick around, if I ignore then I feel guilty for having them. Stupid circle of my stupidity. Working on my thoughts towards myself, my overthinking situations that haven't even happened is a hard habit to break. Ugh...........

[Hidden]

Hey there Jaf

There is nothing you can do about thoughts that pops up. I hate them very much and the worse part is that the ones that are neg are the ones that pops up a lot. One thing I have learnt is to find a book with positive thoughts, the mind will be occupied by that positive thinking book and those negetive thought will diminish. Do you like reading books? If not, what is that one thing that you would rather do to ocupy ur mind. There is no magic that get rid of such thoughts except consistent, repeated words pushed to the mind. That is what I call meditation.

[Qu37T]

I can relate you try not to think about thembut you end up thinking about them and it keeps you down like thatand your neverable to get out from it even if you try .. but i always try to think of other things when it happens...right now i am only able to take my mind off ofthose thoughts for about 5 mins but i guess over time i will be able to forget it all and this will get better ....

[ongaku666]

hope this helps a little

😀

the holistic psychologist, overthinking advice

[JAFOman in reply to ongaku666]

Thanks. It does. Need to try everything I can to beat this

[Catsamaze ADAA Volunteer]

Hi JAFO. You’ve just described so many of us at one time or another....certainly me. The challenge is to get out of our heads. We can’t think our way out anxiety and depression like we’d solve a math problem. And the self blame is the result of us identifying so closely and intensely with the negative thoughts that we think we ARE them. We are not our thoughts nor are we depression. I’m trying to learn to observe the thoughts as if I’m watching a movie...the scenes come and they go but I’m not IN the movie. Hope the analogy helps

[JAFOman in reply to Catsamaze]

It does thank you

[Jeff1943]

When we have high anxiety our nerves are extra sensitive and tend to make us exaggerate every strange thought, worry and problem ten times over.

Do not try to ignore or force out those bad thoughts and feelings. Instead, pass through them: accept them for the moment, agree to co-exist with them for the time being. But it must be true acceptance, not just "putting up with".

By accepting those troublesome thoughts and feelings we gradually lose our fear of them. We cannot help the first flash of fear but we can stop responding to it with second fear.

As fear levels fall through acceptance your nerves lose their over sensitivity and return to normal and the bad thoughts trouble you less and less.

These thoughts of self hate are just an exaggeration of the flaws and mistakes we all have - but multiplied by a factor of ten. Do not be cowed by a thought, it has no weight or substance and cannot put you in harm's way.

[Bella_lee]

Hi JAFOman so sorry to hear how you're feeling. I know from my own experience too, that negative thoughts have a way of creeping into our mind and affecting us emotionally. Over the years, I've learnt to deal with it by intentionally replacing those negative thoughts with positive thoughts and affirmations which I speak out loudly to myself and this really helps me most times. Try and be gentle with yourself and remember you are stronger than you think.