Racing thoughts vs. Obsessive thoughts

[defx]

Lately I’ve been stuck thinking of a person I felt I had a bad run in with somehow. I can’t get their image or the feeling of lack of resolution out of my head. My mind keeps going back to their face/image/awkward exchange. I’ve even reached out to them to make sure we’re cool and that there’s no problem. The funny thing is, I’m not even really close to this person, nor romantically interested, nor etc... we work together and something about them just makes me uncomfortable. I can’t put my finger on it, but either way, I’m thinking way too hard and disproportionately about it. I can’t hardly turn my mind off it unless I’m occupied, but as soon as I calm down I go back to them. It’s really affecting my ability to concentrate and overall fucking up my mood and groove. Does this seem like OCD to you, bipolar racing thoughts, is there a difference? Is it something different altogether? Any thoughts, coping advice, medication suggestions... all advice appreciated.

[Indigojoe]

Hi, This is a tricky one for me. Ive done it, and it really get's my attention at 4am sometimes ( and pisses me off ).

It's really some kind of insecurity and not being able to take action about something.

I do not think you need to label this at all. It is NOT a "disorder". A therapist told me once, to write down everything you would say to that person, and everything you think about that situation.

Once it is out on paper the mind just calms down by it's self.

Sometimes it comes back, but it is called circular thinking and there are ways to stop it as I suggested.

[defx in reply to Indigojoe]

Thanks for that response and advice! I’ll definitely try and give that a shot.

[defx in reply to Indigojoe]

Man. This actually helped a lot

[Usagold]

I did that too when my nervous system was hyperstimulated and during a time I was having anxiety & panic attacks. If it’s related to stress/anxiety, which OCD is just a manifestation of the same, the best thing to do is NOT worry about it. Worry is part of the cycle that keeps it going. Simply allow the thoughts, and then guide your thinking elsewhere. I still sort of tend to think obsessively about things, especially problems or disagreements, but I don’t worry too much about it and the thoughts eventually fade away. It makes me a better problem solver. Bipolar comes with a set of other criteria, like the extreme (polar) behavior, so you would probably know or be seeking help for other issues if you had that. Do you have other OCD tendencies?

[defx in reply to Usagold]

I appreciate your thoughtful response. 4 years ago is when I was diagnosed with generalized anxiety and panic attack disorder. A lot of time recovering was spent learning about how hyper-stimulated my nervous system was, especially post attack. It helped me to recover by doing what you suggest, especially with the thought of uncomfortable physical symptoms that felt they were a pre-cursor to a panic attack. The issue this time is that I’m really having trouble doing the same with thoughts regarding relationships toward others that feel off balance - even if logically they aren’t really that off balance. I can distract myself for a good while, but it’s like my resting brainwaves have become associated and host to this image/thought which hyper stimulates my system. It’s a really bad loop I just can’t quite seem to shake. My psychologist said it sounds like classic OCD. I’m a bit of a perfectionist and over-thinker but I don’t know if I’ve ever really been clinically OCD. My psychiatrist however once suggested the thought that I might be bi-polar ii as my anxiety is often very cyclical. I only care about the labels in as much as how to go about treating it, both through possible medication and CBT type therapy. Regardless, my mind seems to be itching for resolution that may just not be there. I’m trying to allow the thoughts to be there and not judge myself for having them rather than wish them to disappear all at once. If I do the latter, it just reinforces a fear that I won’t get better and over stimulates my nervous system. It’s a tricky, tough one to get through to say the least. That said, getting words of advice, support, and encouragement really helps, so again thank you so much.

[Usagold]

Whatever you have must be what I have because you sound a lot like me. And, yes, it takes a helluva long time to recover, doesn’t it-the past 3 years for me. My guess is that you’re not completely healed yet, and you’re experiencing some repetitive thoughts causing you more anxiety. You have control though. The control is to do what you’ve been working on, don’t care about the thoughts and choose to deliberately think good thoughts. When the obsessive thought comes, let it, welcome it, and keep repeating the positive (Bible verses or other uplifting encouraging words). Caring is anxiety. The thoughts can’t hurt anything and I guarantee you they don’t mean anything. You’re not bipolar and neither am I. We are perfectionists, we have obsessive tendencies, and have struggled with anxiety. I’m telling you, your anxious brain is looking for something to worry about, ie. itching for resolution. That’s all this is.

[defx]

Re original post. This is exactly what I’ve been going through lately. I had a week or so where I felt I’d gotten over/made headway. Had a backslide this week a bit though. Today and this past weekend were a bit rough: anxietycentre.com/anxiety-s...