Racing Thoughts?

How to combat anxious thoughts and patterns

If at times you have difficulty slowing your thoughts, YOU ARE NOT ALONE!💚 Racing thoughts–relentless, fast-moving, and uncontrollable thoughts that appear one after another –at “best” are frustrating and at worst cause disruption in managing mental health symptoms and can negatively impact one’s quality of life. While racing thoughts can be a symptom of various mental health conditions, including bipolar disorder, anxiety, and depression, they can also be just an irritating annoyance. Racing thoughts can cause impediments in daily life, including difficulty concentrating, insomnia, anxiety, and stress. They can also interfere with daily life and affect an individual’s ability to function normally. But…there IS good news! Racing thoughts can be successfully managed.

To avoid racing thoughts, there are several things you can do. One of the most effective ways to manage racing thoughts is to practice mindfulness meditation. Mindfulness meditation involves focusing on the present moment and observing one’s thoughts without judgment; this technique can help in becoming more aware of your thoughts and feelings and learn to control them better. Even going to a quiet place for a brief period of time be helpful. Deep breathing and focusing on something that usually makes you happy (like your child or a pet or an activity you always enjoy) is another easy-ish “tool” to use to gain control over chaotic thoughts.

One way to help prevent racing thoughts is to engage in physical exercise regularly. Exercise has been shown to reduce stress and anxiety levels and improve mood. It can also help individuals sleep better at night, which can reduce the frequency of racing thoughts.

Also, when we exercise, our bodies create chemicals (neurotransmitters) that help us feel better. If all you can do is go outside and take a walk, you can change your mood and redirect your attention and thoughts.

For persistent racing thoughts that are difficult to manage, cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is a method that professionals/mental health care providers can utilize to help people manage their undesirable and domineering thoughts. CBT is a type of therapy that helps individuals identify negative thought patterns and replace them with positive ones. This technique can help individuals learn to control their thoughts better and reduce the frequency of racing thoughts.

Racing thoughts–whether obsessive-compulsive thoughts, or a flight of ideas, or rumination–can vary in severity and be a challenging symptom of various mental health conditions. However, there are several things that individuals can do to manage them effectively. Practicing mindfulness meditation, engaging in physical exercise regularly, and seeking professional assistance via cognitive-behavioral therapy are all effective ways to avoid and manage racing thoughts.

What’s DAISY Reading?

Crying in H Mart by Michelle Zauner

DAISY is reading Crying in H Mart by Michelle Zauner. She has really enjoyed reading this memoir. Zauner is a Korean-American who lost her mom to cancer when she was younger, and she feels a particular connection to her mom, culture, and childhood through food. As a lover of food and humans, DAISY feels really moved by this book. It has made her laugh, cry in her own puppet way, and appreciate her mom a little more. Michelle Zauner is also in a band called “Japanese Breakfast.”