How to stop ruminating thoughts

[Darkhouse]

I'm seriously ruminating about ruminating, that's how bad it's gotten. I have an MRI tomorrow, and I'm obsessing about it, but that's just an example of the obsessive thoughts that constantly run through my mind. I want to stop. I've tried years of psychotherapy...it helps, a little, but here I am, still ruminating. I live in a rural area without access to therapists, so that's not really an option, now anyway. I searched "How to stop obsessive thoughts" and Google said to do a mindful meditation, which I then did. In that it said "Are you obsessing about the future? Don't? It's in the future..." omg... Like, that makes sense on a rational level, I know all of that. But if i could "just do this" or "just do that" I wouldn't have an anxiety disorder. That's the entire problem, there's a disconnect there. I know it's silly and pointless and a waste of time etc etc etc to future trip, but I still can't stop. HOW DO I STOP?? The answer is not JUST meditate. If I hear that, sorry, but I'm off this site. I'm sick of being told to meditate for a crippling anxiety disorder. Yes, I do actually meditate. About 50% of the time it makes me more anxious than when I started...because they say stupid stuff like the before mentioned things... Grrrr... I need something real.... Or a better meditation maybe? 🤔

[Kelkel00]

By any chance have you tried tapping? It’s helped me a little, may be worth a try.

[Darkhouse in reply to Kelkel00]

I've read about it, haven't tried it yet. It did help you a little bit at least? Maybe it's worth a shot then, thank you 😊

[Welsa]

your not alone here, I am infact the same as you..

I found myself ruminating about ruminating and obsess over the future.. I worry about not being cared for when I get to an age of need.

Everyone says to me to stop worrying as it’s useless but no words anyone can say will help at times.

I’m taking sertraline now at 100mg and I feel the ease of pressure from myself and my thoughts.

They get bad when I’m due on, whilst on and ovulating.. hormones can be a part to play so possible keep yourself a dairy of when you feel your worst and most able to cope.

This helps me a lot as I can understand why a lot more.

Hope you find a solution to help you forwards.

[Hidden in reply to Welsa]

Omg I relate, my hormones rule me. Ugh

[FindingTheAnswers]

I understand. I’m right there with you, except I ruminate mostly over past Mental/Emotional painful experiences. I rarely tell anyone about this because of some things you and Welsa mentioned. ‘Forget about it’. ‘It’s no big deal’. And others. As I’m sure you’ll agree, if I could forget about it, I would. In fact, yes it’s just that easy-except I can’t. Also people don’t know how to respond or it may make them uncomfortable?

When you mentioned worrying about the future as with your MRI, when I’ve had to have a test or procedure that I know will be unpleasant, I want it done TOMORROW if not today, so that it’s not in my head for,,,, however long the wait is.

All of that being said, please check out symptoms for ADHD-which I have (and yes, Adults have ADHD as well as kids. For some people, it doesn’t stop at Adulthood, we just learn to hide our symptoms). My mind runs at over 100 mph and I could rarely, if ever, stop it. I was diagnosed in my late 40’s, by accident. Just check out the symptoms and see if any sound familiar. If you have questions, you can ask here or message me. My ADHD Rx can help with ruminating tremendously, but it’s doesn’t work 100% of the time.

Either way, I wish you all RELIEF and Peace of Mind.

[Kelkel00 in reply to FindingTheAnswers]

yes, all of what you said!!! I really think I have undiagnosed adhd myself! I mentioned it to the psychiatrist last week and they want to focus on one Med at a time.

[FindingTheAnswers in reply to Kelkel00]

The following link is the best description of RSD=Rejection Sensitivity Disorder that I've read. RSD is prevalent in people with ADHD (certainly with me). See if it sounds familiar to you.

dodsonadhdcenter.com/reject...

[Darkhouse in reply to FindingTheAnswers]

I read the article and I feel like yes, it applies, but then the rest of the symptoms just don't. I don't have problems multitasking, completing tasks, I don't have excessive activity or restlessness (rarely, but I'm bipolar too)... I just have all the sensitivity, the persecution complex, the perfectionism.. Idk, I think it's some other mood disorder unfortunately.... Very interesting article though...

[Nothing_but_books in reply to FindingTheAnswers]

Thank you for the link. It expresses clearly what I've experienced all my life. Unfortunately, they don't suggest any solutions.

[Hidden]

Hey Darkhouse,

I was just posting about how bad my rumination is. I won’t tell you to meditate because I’m not there yet either. There’s a fabulous post that was written about a year ago by Norw, that is all about Rumination. I just read this and highly recommend you check it out. It really put things into perspective for me. Maybe it will resonate with you too.

healthunlocked.com/anxiety-...

[Darkhouse in reply to Hidden]

I agree w the premise of asking "would you say these things to another person?"... No, of course not... I've also read that trying specifically to NOT think about something will just about make you think about it more. It's like holding a dog's tail straight...you can stop it from wagging while you're holding it, but the second you let go, it just starts going again, usually harder than before. A friend just recommended yoga nidra, which while yes, is a meditation, is different from other types in that it goes a lot deeper, it doesn't seem to be just "fluff" buzzwords. I've only tried it a couple of times, but I have enjoyed it. It was a break from the carousel of crazy thoughts that usually spins inside my unwell head... 😏

[Hidden in reply to Darkhouse]

Thank you the yoga nidra idea. I’m open to ANY suggestions to conquer this demon of rumination. It truly is like quicksand. An addictive mind game that cannot be won, and only a ruminator will keep playing.👍

[designguy]

Hello Darkhorse, I get your frustration about ruminating, it seems like sometimes when I get stuck in it all my coping skills just go out the window. I had a setback during the holidays and have been stuck in a ruminating, depressive episode since then. Ruminating can be a symptom of OCD and here are a couple of people to check out. I have some OCD and have found the youtube videos of Paige Pradko helpful. She is a therapist that healed her OCD and also her ruminating issues and now helps others deal with it and heal. Another good resource I found is Matthew Codde at restoredminds.com/ he is also a therapist who had OCD and anxiety/ruminating and healed himself and now helps others heal.

I also know for me I do well for 3 or 4 months or so, get triggered and then have a setback and am in a slump for weeks. I know from having tests done that I don't have a lot of reserves of serotonin and my body doesn't make enough feel good chemicals so it's like I don't have a full tank of gas to cope. I've applied for TMS Therapy and am waiting to hear when I can start, I understand it can be helpful for ruminating and OCD as well as anxiety/depression. I'm planning on posting about it and my progress when I start. So it's something you might look into. Best to you.

[Darkhouse in reply to designguy]

I did not know they could test for a serotonin deficiency, huh...interesting. I live in a very medically isolated community w essentially zero access to even regular psychotherapists, so finding one's that do specialized treatments, especially that THEN take Medicare, oy vey... Idk if I have OCD either. I definitely did when I was young, but I married a free spirit who over the last 20 years has helped me realize that how the carrots are cut or how the placemats are aligned on the table don't really matter. But now that I'm caretaking for someone w dementia, it helps to have routines, and I notice that I get physically uncomfortable if things aren't where they should be or actions aren't done in the same order each day. Now, there's a reason behind this-it makes it easier on my patient, however, I get I think more upset about things than the situation calls for, especially if someone else covers for me. I have to be careful about micromanaging and flipping out if one thing isn't done right, because then my help doesn't want to help the next time. Maybe I've just controlled my OCD up until now. OCD is treated behaviorally, not w meds, correct?

[designguy in reply to Darkhouse]

I think OCD can also be treated with meds like antidepressants and there may be newer ones for it now. I've found that meds help but therapy is also required. I did a psychopharmacological test a few years ago that used my dna to determine which meds were likely to be best for me genetically. I had tried a half dozen prior to the test without success and tried one the test indicated and it worked for me along with therapy. I'm not sure it's still helping me now though which I understand sometimes happens with meds.

[Hidden]

Hi there,

I ruminate to the max as well. It's agony. Here's a post I did back when my psychiatrist was helping me with this. Maybe it can be of help to you?

healthunlocked.com/anxiety-...

[Metastar]

I've ruminated about the rumination about rumination. It isn't that far from getting into the infinite regress.

The only way I have found out of it is to force myself to be in situations where you need to act.

[TheLongDream]

I feel everything I say is pointless and doesn't matter at all, right after I am done writing it (usually). I know, noticed, that noone actually cares about what I have said. I listen very carefully though. People constantly forget how important is to listen to the person, it's not a monologue there, and what most of them just ramble is so stupid, but in their own ears their own words are priceless.