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I don't mean in a schizophrenic kinda way, I mean never being able to concentrate due to the mind being constantly elsewhere, over analysing everything and reliving things repeatedly.
Has anyone found any useful techniques to stop this?
You can't stop it. It's what brains do but you can use mindfulness techniques to help with restoring your attention on what you want it to be on.
Look into mindfulness. Preferably take a course.
I listen to speech radio. Seems to hit the same parts of my brain as the internal monologue and changes my focus.
I can actually get back to sleep at night with a radio playing radio 4/4extra/world service in my ear (or an audio book at a pinch), without I just lay there listening to myself.
I do the same waswas, at night. I'm mainly referring to during the day.
Yeah, bit like being on here innit.
Mindfulness. I was genuinely surprised at how effective it was! 🙂
Have you checked your blood glucose level recently?
Difficulty concentrating can be a symptom of high blood glucose levels.
mike74 - do it during the day too. I work at home which obviously makes it easier for me.
I find setting aside time specifically for internal monologue does help.
(On a bike works.... when I used to run that was better)
That said it often depends what is on your mind... as sometimes I think actually talking something through with a friend can help stop an endless loop.
Edit: I also find manual work good... even stripping down a bike and rebuilding etc.
Any useful sources for the Mindfulness thing?
Just practice watching the mind chatter by itself.
The chatter isn't the problem - the problem is if you start getting lost in the chatter or try an stop it.
the problem is if you start getting lost in the chatter
That's pretty much it.
there is a iOS app called "headspace" that has a great 10 minute mindfullness free course / talk through that you can take indefinitely that works great
there is a lot of premium content in the app also, but ive now idea how good that stuff is as I've only ever used the 10 minute mindfullness workout thing
Alternatively, go for a 30 minute walk without headphones
Mindfullness. The Headspace app is great!
Free PDF on mindfulness
My mind wanders if I'm doing stuff I'm not interested in, or stuff that has no intellectual challenge. When I've got to concentrate on good tricky stuff I find myself totally absorbed.
I design and build bespoke furniture. Most of the time I have 6Music on. When I've got a complex design to work out (like the one I'm procrastinating from right now) the radio goes off.
...back in a bit...
'you're shit, you did that thing wrong at work, your manager wants you out and that woman doesn't want to sit next to you any more, hey remember that shit thing you did 10 years ago, that was well shit and you're shit because of it, yup that's right I'm going to disregard all the thousands of positive things you've done over your entire life and just remind of you of the shit'
'you're shit, you did that thing wrong at work, your manager wants you out and that woman doesn't want to sit next to you any more, hey remember that shit thing you did 10 years ago, that was well shit and you're shit because of it, yup that's right I'm going to disregard all the thousands of positive things you've done over your entire life and just remind of you of the shit'
Nail firmly on head.
Riding your bike enough?
I'm probably being obvious, but...
listening to music helps
doing physical tasks & exercise helps
general happiness with life situation helps
psychoactive drugs do not help
staying up until 3am does not help
Mindfulness does sound interesting, never heard about it, will have a look. If you can't fall asleep, my advice, and I'm serious about it, is to masturbate. Takes your mind off and makes you sleepy, when you are done...
Xcracer has it. Observe it and don't involve yourself with it. Practice. Allow yourself to be successful with this practice at times and not so at other times. Practice observation some more.
Eventually, it will become easier to silence the chattering mind, to not be seduced by it's familiarity. Old habits die hard and perseverance and tenacity are good words.
There are many Buddhist teachings that cover the chattering mind, try to find some meditation groups, that approach may work for you, it may not, there are no rights or wrongs, just what works for you.
Age also helps, when we're younger, we have more disposable energy to waste on mental and physical turmoil. Age and experience allows us to make a more informed choice as to where we spend our reducing amounts of energy.
We each make our own reality.
Headspace +1
+2
This is pretty much the reason i do mountain biking, boarding (anything that forces me to focus fully on what i am doing) otherwise my sleep starts going funny and i get easily stressed and annoyed.
Just my way of coping but it's somehow a relief to know others get it too
It's unwise to ever ignore the chatter. If there are repeated themes, they *need* to be confronted. Many of them will be habitual, just like jekkyl laid out above, and require you to break the habit and develop process to replace it.
Headspace +3. Really good, I found it helped me a lot.
One of the symptoms I was suffering from a few years ago - work related stress. Sorted that and now the only chatter I get is Mrs OS after one too many proseccos.
Most of the mind chatter is on habitual themes and ignoring/accepting it tends to quieten it down. The simplest method is simply to focus on one thing ...the breath is often used.the mind will behave like a puppy ..constantly wandering off and your job is to notice that and keep bringing it back to the point of concentration.You will find yourself carried away into thought over and over again but keep practicing..daily for 10 mins then increase the time spent.Remaining focused will get easier.
This is basic meditation .
Mindfulness has been practiced by buddhists for millenia and has only recently become in vogue and marketed by many. It is however undoubtedly a great tool for mental health ..incredibly simple but also requiring practice and dedication.
Thanks folks. I've downloaded the Headspace app and tried the first one earlier, which was pretty good. I've set it to remind me to do it daily, so I'll see if I get better at it 😀