Intrusive thoughts and brain fuzz!

[53217]

I've really struggled to get through today. Now I usually deal with negative intrusive thoughts daily. Simple stuff like you're not good enough, you're not smart enough, something bad will happen if you go for that walk, so on and so on but today I couldn't shake the thoughts. They just kept piling on and my more hectic dangerous intrusive thoughts jumped on board too (swerve infrojt of that car or truck) causing what I can only label as a mental break down 🤷‍♀️ my brain felt funny, I couldn't focus, I was scared and had a full blown panic attack. how do people cope with intrusive thoughts? Is there a way to put a stop to it or do you have to wait the whole thing out? Afterwards I am so physically and mentally exhausted. How can I stop the every day ojes too because they are stopping me from doing even the most basic of tasks like getting a job or doing study. Im really feeling lost atm. Im a mother to 3 kids and a wife.

[Sophie_M]

Hey 53217,

Wishing you a very warm welcome to the forums, we are so grateful that you have shown your strength in sharing your story and reaching out to the community. It sounds like these intrusive thoughts must be so overwhelming and difficult to cope with, but please know that you are never alone in this, and there will be many others reading here who can relate to having difficult thoughts like these. It sounds like you must have so much on your plate right now, but please know that support is always available to you, and our community are here to offer as much advice and conversation as you need through this.

Can we ask, do you currently have any mental health support? We understand that it can be really tough to cope sometimes, especially if you find it difficult to reach out to family or friends. We think it would really help to be able to talk these feelings through with a kind and understanding counsellors at our Support Service if you would feel up to it? They are always here for you, 24/7, by phone on 1300 22 4636 or also through Webchat (1pm-12am AEST) at: www.beyondblue.org.au/getsupport Please also know that our friends at Lifeline (13 11 14) and Suicide Call Back Service (1300 659 467) are also there for you whenever things are feeling too overwhelming to cope with- the lovely counsellors are there to help support you as often as you need during times like these.

We hope that you find these forums to be a safe and non-judgemental space, and we really hope that you can find some comfort here, and feel a little less alone through this- we're all here for you. 
 

[missep123]

Hi 53217,

I wish I knew exactly what to say but when I read your story my heart really went out to you. That really does sound exhausting. Sometimes what I've heard is that when we place importance on a thought or become emotionally attached to it i.e. 'no - I shouldn't think that' and pushing against the thought, it can be so tiring to try to fight it. Mindfulness may be something to look into. Have you tried it before? It helped to teach me to let the thoughts float by. For example 'leaves on a stream' or 'mindfulness sushi train' are good exercises to try, I like to look them up on youtube.

Here for you!

[53217]

I do see a psychiatrist every 4 weeks and I am on medication for both bipolar and ADHD but sometimes I dont tell him what is going on in my head for fear of being made to take nore medications or higher doses. I already drive an hour just to see him. Usually what happens is I have a huge melt down like yesterday and then by the time I see him I am fine again and I feel like I'm back in control. I know that I need to see a psychologist but the negative thoughts stop me from doing so they give me a million reasons why I dont need to go or what might happen if I did. The idea of someone sitting there and judging me while I tell a stranger about my life just seems so overwhelming and quite honestly scary. I have read up on how to deal with intrusive thoughts and usually I can push them aside by not playing into them but there are days luke yesterday where I simply can't stop them. Its like waves constantly crashing into me and im gasping for air the whole time

[YogiLove_]

A few things that have helped me when im in this space is to keep repeating a mantra like "this feeling will pass - this is not a forever feeling - it will pass" I also do some yogic breathing which is breath in for 4, hold for 4 and breath out for 4 seconds to try and calm myself. A quick meditation is also great and I do this on my phone, there are apps or even through podcast app that have 5-10 minute meditations to bring you back down from the attack.

Its incredibly scary and frightening when you are in that space and feeling overwhelmed, anxious, having the intrusive thoughts and are at meltdown point. Where ever you are when that happens, pull the car over or just stop for 10 minutes to ground yourself and regroup. You got this! 🙂

[Gambit87]

Hi 53217,

Welcome to the forums! Its takes so much strength to share.

I was in the exact same boat as you and felt the exact same way. I would get bombarded by intrusive thoughts daily and I would constantly fight against them which would leave me feeling so overwhelmed, drained and tired. I would constantly tear shreds off myself for having them which in turn fuel my depression and the views I had of myself.

The trick is (what I've found anyway) don't react to them (easier said than done I know). Reacting to them gives them the fuel they need to get a reaction out of you. Think of these thoughts as a screaming child banging pots together - you tell them to stop, they keep doing it, you get angry, they still keep doing it and you get even more angry. Ignore the child and they will eventually loose interest and stop (terrible analogy haha but I hope you get my point). I've been working on this with my psychologist and its gotten to the point where about 85-90% of the time the thoughts pop in and out again before I have time to even think about them or if I do see them its like theyre floating away and my thought process is 'yep - thats a thought, would I do that? NO - move on then' and ive discovered my intrusive thoughts relates to how anxious I am that day.

To that end, I encourage you to see a psychologist. It is daunting at first but they are worth their weight in gold. There is no judgement and ive told my psychologist some dark things and she just gives me a little smile, reassures me and we start talking about it. Talking through the thoughts with them you see why these thoughts affect you and you will develop strategies to get past them. My psychologist has really helped me really take back the control the intrusive thoughts were having over me.

Getting on top of intrusive thoughts is hard work, but once you figure out the strategies that suit you - a weight gets lifted.

we're here for you!

[Gambit87]

I want to add meditation is a great way to calm the mind.

Theres some great apps, I use headspace and smiling mind when Im feeling a little overwhelmed. It takes a little getting used to at first but they are really great.

[Petal22]

Hello 53217,

Sorry to hear you are feeling this way.... I had OCD ( anxiety disorder) I have now recovered from it....

I had many intrusive thoughts that were very distressing to me.... they were on repeat... I was extremely exhausted.... I totally understand how you are feeling and there is HOPE for you...... you CAN recover from this....

My recovery started from seeing my gp through to seeing a clinical phycologist and phyciatrist.... this then lead me to a group OCD therapy at a clinic..... I was taught many strategies on how to deal with my intrusive thoughts..... I did meditation this taught me to be the watcher of my thoughts and not get so caught up in them....

you are not alone many people have this condition....the good news is there is a lot of help out there you just need to seek it...... don’t try to deal with this on your own you need to seek professional help to start your journey to recovery.... start at your gp and be honest with them on how you are feeling.......

have you been able to speak to your partner about the way you are feeling?

im here if you want to chat 😊

[Petal22]

Also just a tip don’t try to fight the thoughts just allow them to be there... don’t question the thoughts

the more attention we give to our thoughts the more stronger they will become because our brains think they are important...

also don’t do what your anxiety is telling you to do eg.... if it tells you not to go outside...... go outside

the more we do what our anxiety tells us to do the more we re inforce our anxiety....

you are stronger than you think.... keep pushing forward 😊