Q & A: Obsessive Thinking May Be a Symptom of Stress.

Q: I am struggling with obsessive thinking. Sometimes I go over and over things in my head? Sometimes I over analyze things and drive myself crazy. Especially when I am anxious. But actually it makes my anxiety worse. What can I do when my mind starts to obsess? Do I ignore the thoughts? I know this is causing problems for me.

A: Your mind can be like a machine...

...and runs on automatic. Anything, you don't believe is resolved or will be resolved, will play out over and over again. It becomes obsessive thinking if you don't know how to let it go.

1. If it's about stuff you need to do - keep a little notepad with you. Write it down. As soon as you have put the idea or the task on a reliable piece of paper, your mind will trust you to take care of it tomorrow, and let it go.

2. If it's replaying the past - chances are you are living in regret. As you yourself said, it only creates stress. So what can you do? A great site I found is www.thework.com

There is a worksheet on handling beliefs about what has happened in the past. In other words, the story or interpretation you have about the past is what is causing the stress. This worksheet will help your mind re-frame it so you can let it go.

3. Past trauma - Obsessive thinking can be most active when re-playing a traumatic event. One of the techniques I learned along the way is to write out what happened in my own words. THEN if you have someone you can trust ask them to sit and listen without commenting or emotionally engaging. They should remain neutral. You read the story to them over and over and over again until the story loses its meaning. This de-charges the event. Just keep going even if it takes an hour. If you don't have someone, do it with a mirror.

Also get trauma counseling

4. You're replaying what someone did to you. Write them a 'feeling letter' from John Gray's book 'Women are from Venus and Men are from Mars' This is a letter they will never see but will help you to get it out.

5. Worrying about the future - Again this comes back to the story you have going about your future. So you can choose to change the story. Instead of using your imagination to fear the worst. See the best. This may take time to practise, and your other thoughts may interrupt. Make it fun. It will be easier to do.

Obsessive thinking can be normal, unless it is part of an obsessive compulsive disorder. Just keep practicing. It will come. This is not unique to you. It's called being human. But I found the more faith I had in myself and my future the calmer I was.

6. And most effective thing I ever did was meditation.

PS. there are foodstuff like chili, sugar or caffeine that stimulate the mind.

This is not intended as a substitute to professional help. We recommend you also seek such help. Sometimes obsessive thoughts or worry can be a result of obsessive compulsive disorder.

Please take the time to research possibilities and solutions.