A racing mind is one in which thoughts come incessantly, filled with thoughts from the anxiety-filled to the fearful and everything in between. Lots of people suffer at times from a racing mind and may not even know it. Typically, your mind tends to race as you are more stressed out about a situation or are overly anxious. There are ways to overcome a racing mind, and the following are some methods that have proven effective in helping your mind to shut down.
One technique is known as the “Stop Technique,” which is in essence you telling your mind to stop. By saying “stop” to yourself over and over, it helps to change things quickly. The technique can also be applied by silently saying the word to yourself to facilitate change. Studies have shown that the mind can be quickly re-routed simply by engaging the mind. As your mind becomes concentrated on one thing, it is increasingly more difficult for other thoughts to enter and thus affect your overall mood. There are a few things one can do to stop racing thoughts.
1. Talking to one or more persons simultaneously is probably seen as one of the most effective distraction in the world. Your brain requires lots of energy to engage in several conversations all at once. As a result, it is harder for you to concentrate on a single thing, which decreases the likelihood of other issues causing you detriment.
2. Reading causes you to use your inner voice to “speak” as you read over the words. As you are reading, it is difficult to concentrate on other things other than the lines to follow the story.
3. Similarly, writing forces you to “speak” the words that you are putting on the paper. Whether it is creative writing or a diary, your mind is too preoccupied to worry about other thoughts that could potentially race through your mind.
4. Getting physical is also a great way of diverting attention from a racing mind. The more you keep your body in motion, the less time you have to think and over-analyze other things. There are a multitude of physical activities out there for you to participate in that can help you through a racing mind. Examples include swimming, biking, tennis, running, cross training, or basketball. As your body becomes more tired, your mind too will be more fatigued and less likely to think of other things.
It should be noted that many people that suffer from racing voices may think that it is a sign that they are crazy or lack a sense of control. If your mind tends to race, it is not a cause for alarm, as it does not signify that you are psychotic or out of control. It does mean, however, that your anxiety levels are increased and that the stress you are currently experiencing is higher than normal, as the two go hand in hand. With exercise and proven techniques, a racing mind can be controlled, alleviated, and kept at manageable levels.
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