[ SECRET POST #4579 ]

[case]

⌈ Secret Post #4579 ⌋

Warning: Some secrets are NOT worksafe and may contain SPOILERS.

01.



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02.
[Vincenzo's Plate youtube channel]


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03.
[Terry Pratchett, Discworld]


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04.
[David Tennant in Good Omens]


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05.
[Black Mirror, "San Junipero"]


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06.
[Crazyhead]


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07.
[Love and Fortune]









Notes:

Secrets Left to Post: 02 pages, 42 secrets from Secret Submission Post #656.
Secrets Not Posted: [ 0 - broken links ], [ 0 - not!secrets ], [ 0 - not!fandom ], [ 0 - too big ], [ 0 - repeat ].
Current Secret Submissions Post: here.
Suggestions, comments, and concerns should go here.

Comments

Intrusive thoughts

[(Anonymous)]

How do I make them go away?!?! I can't relax or anything without some stupid useless thought invading my mind and refusing to leave.

Re: Intrusive thoughts

[(Anonymous)]

Hit the mute button.

Re: Intrusive thoughts

[(Anonymous)]

OP

I wish I had one for my brain!

Re: Intrusive thoughts

[(Anonymous)]

Depends on what kind of thought it is. Some say that listening to or singing the whole song through can get rid of an earworm, so the same type of thing might work for thoughts. What is the thought? Any particular reason you might be having it? If so, maybe follow that thread. Is it true? If not, remind yourself why it's not true. Is it something you are supposed to do? If so, either do it or write yourself a reminder if you can't do it right away. Is it a daydream? If so, let yourself go with it a bit.

It's possible that just acknowledging it as a thought that you are having, without assigning it any sort of value (right/wrong, good/bad, ridiculous/important, etc.), rather than trying to push it away or ignore it, may help.

Re: Intrusive thoughts

[(Anonymous)]

OP

Problem is, following the thread is what I usually do. Over and over. And sometimes it branches out into new threads that involve new problems, and I can't end them until I've "solved" them in my mind.

I do feel better after "solving" a problematic thought, or figuring out why I'm having it, but that doesn't stop it from coming back. And then I have to do it all over again.

It also happens with Google. I'll Google something I don't want to think about (for example... imagine you don't want to think about child abuse, but you cant stop Googling articles about it), and then I'll feel a little bit better after going through a bunch of articles, just because it gets rid of the urge to Google the thing for a while. But then it comes back again. And again. It's a waste of time, but if I don't do it, it won't stop bugging me.

Re: Intrusive thoughts

[(Anonymous)]

Interrupt it immediately, then busy yourself with something that's mentally challenging enough to serve as a distraction.

Re: Intrusive thoughts

[rosehiptea]

I have them too. In my case it was OCD and medication helps, though I also have depression issues which is part of why I took that route. I've heard cognitive therapy helps too, maybe even more than medication.

Of course it may not be OCD for you and from what you say I can't really tell how much of a problem this is for you, so talking about therapy may seem ridiculous to you. But if it's bothering you a lot and interfering with your daily life consulting a professional might be a good idea.

Re: Intrusive thoughts

[(Anonymous)]

1. Pick a colour. Find three things of that colour that you can see. Pick another colour. Repeat as necessary.

2. This is an exercise about lowering general stress, not specific intrusive thoughts, but might be helpful as a daily practice: lie somewhere comfortable on your back, with your feet tucked up. Put a cushion on your belly and focus on making measured breaths that lift the cushion. Try to do it for at least 15 minutes. (I usually time it with 15min of an audiobook I like.)

3. Depending on your life circumstances, starting a hobby might be useful. Something that involves hand-eye co-ordination, to keep you engaged, but isn't too stressful if a mistake happens. So... working on a garden, knitting, jigsaw puzzles etc. If there's a hobby specific group that meets up nearby (public libraries are great for that sort of thing), try attending. There's a certain amount of positive validation that comes with people being social and admiring each other's project. Don't force yourself - but it might be something you like to do.

4. I mean honestly, sometimes I'm feeling miserable so I just do housework. Washing dishes, mopping floors. If I'm in a shitty mood *anyway*, I might as well get a clean house out of it.

5. Sometimes shit is just going to happen and it sucks, but you're not a bad person for feeling this way. What you *are* doing, right now, by asking for advice, is taking steps to help yourself, and that's a useful and good thing to do. So I want you to feel proud of yourself for starting this conversation, okay?