Ever found yourself going on and on and on about the same thoughts that don’t seem to leave your mind? Don’t worry, we’ve all been there. These thoughts can be overwhelming, they can make you feel anxious and they can disrupt your concentration.
You might feel like you aren’t able to slow down your thoughts or like your mind is going hundreds of miles per hour, or even like you are catastrophizing, thinking about what could go worst. These thoughts can result in insomnia, increased levels of anxiety and can keep you from normally going through your day.
Luckily, these thoughts are manageable, and we’ve made a list of things you can do to ease your mind.
Take some deep breaths
Count for every inhale and exhale, focus on your breathing pattern and you will notice how you will shift your attention from your never-ending thoughts to your breathing, allowing yourself to feel more relaxed.
Repeat a reassuring mantra
Simply uttering ‘Everything will be alright’ for a few times will take your attention off the racing thoughts.
Clear your head before you go to sleep
If you find yourself wandering through these racing thoughts when you’re trying to fall asleep, change your routine. Try to eliminate stress at least 2 hours before going to sleep by practicing yoga or meditation, taking a warm bath or reading a book. Limit your screen time before you go to bed in order to allow your brain to unwind.
Consider CBT practice
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy can bring you a multitude of benefits. It can help you go deep to the very core of your racing thoughts patterns and teach you techniques in order to manage these thoughts. By approaching coping mechanisms such as daily journaling, deep breathing exercises and focusing on the present moment, CBT can be of great help if your mind is racing every day.
Please note that there are certain mental health conditions (such as anxiety, ADHD, bipolar disorder or obsessive-compulsive disorder) which can cause racing thoughts. If your symptoms strongly interfere with your daily life, please consult your doctor for professional medical advice.
Exercise
Physical activity can be an excellent way to release your emotions. Keeping your body busy moves your attention from your thoughts to your body, this way disrupting the negative thoughts chain. You might not feel like exercising if your mind is busy, but going for a short run can drastically improve your mood.
Stress and never-ending thoughts can often leave us feeling anxious, drained and weary. If this becomes a habit, it can clearly affect our mental and physical well-being. While you cannot completely eliminate stress from your life, you can clearly take small steps to relieve it.
Take time to do what makes you feel good, find a way to unwind and over time you might find that your thoughts don’t feel so overwhelming as they once did.
