OMG, I have issues,

I have sat here at this screen for like 30 mins typing than hitting the backspace key over and over again, my thoughts are so cluttered that I don't even know how to make heads or tails out of them. Does anyone else ever do this or am I like totally nuts? This is not an everyday thing it is just here latley that it has gotten really bad.. I don't know what to do anymore, I don't know how I feel, I just want an escape for a few hours, mins, days heck I don't even know. I know that I am so scared of people knowing how I feel, like it makes me weak or something. Maybe that they are going to tell me that I shouldn't feel like this or I should have more faith or just something really negative. My daughter says well mom, go do something, think about something else.. don't you think I would if I could. Right now all I want to do is just hide away from the world.. Is there not anyone in my life that can here me? I think my family is so sick and tired of hearing the same oh junk they are about to scream.. anyone ever seen the movie, Death becomes her? The scene where Goldie Hawn is in a group session and when she starts to talk, everyone in the room goes crazy,, that is my family right now.. Oh God I need help. lol anyone have any tips as to clearing the mind? If so please let me know.. I really could use the advice right now. Well here I go and I am not going to hit the backspace...

Sorry about this, windnrain. Is professional help an option for you?

Hi Windnrain ~ I agree that you should see a therapist ~ he would be better able to treat what is bothering you. We don't have the expertise to draw out whatever it is that is nagging at you and causing you all this trouble. But we can certainly listen.

I do have a "trick" that I use when the "voices" in my head get too loud or confusing. You have to be able to visualize. If you can do that, it might work. I try to put faces on these "voices." I only have 2 in my head. One is a woman, and the other a man. I also have this clear "plexiglass" wall - and when the voices get too loud, I push this imaginary button and this wall goes up between me and the voices. Then I can't hear them anymore. I can still see them but can't hear them. Once I've quieted them, I don't have to think about them anymore.

This works for me. My shrink said it was an excellent way to quiet things down, and he approved of it. I used it quite often until the voices stopped bothering me altogether!! But if they ever start again, I know what I have to do. I hope it works for you. God bless & take care. Hugs, Lee

Hello & Welcome, Windnrain!

Clearing My Mind

• play a simple game
• deliberately gear down into slow mode (walking, moving around, observing, performing tasks, etc.); work very slowly on only one task at a time
• take whatever meds you've been prescribed (in my case the meds don't necessarily help my scattered thoughts, but they help me not to care my thoughts are scattered...)
• for some reason, clearing my sinuses helps me clear my mind or at least feel better: use a neti pot; eat a tablespoon+ of prepared horseradish
• allow yourself to wait until some of your thoughts sort themselves out

Some Other Resources/Ideas
5 Things That Will Make You Happier (Fox News)
7 Quick Ways to Calm Down (Therese J. Borchard)
Distracting Activities (Nonsense’s list at PC)
Coping With Stress Using Self-Soothing Skills (About.com’s Matthew Tull, PhD)
5x5 Technique (Elysium at PC)
How Do You Self-Soothe? (PC thread)
Jennaorgana's Mood Lifters

Rohag, those are great suggestions. I love (and agree with you) about the way meds help me not to care so much that my thoughts are scattered.
Also, want to add, the one thing I've done for myself in the past couple of years that has been therapeutic is to READ. Reading anything, but particularly escape reading (which, for me, is history). Since I often have trouble concentrating, this means slowing down and consciously focusing on the reading material, often a word at a time, but eventually allowing myself to become lost in the material. I've learned and experienced so much with this activity! And, I don't worry that there are other things to do...sure, there are a myriad of things needing done, but I need this! and it has helped me heal.
Windnrain...I hope you can take steps toward this.

wow, thank you so much for all the information. I will work with what you have giving me to help in my mind frame at this time.. not on any meds, I haven't taken them in a very long time. I have managed to do very well for the past couple of yrs. I don't like medication at all. Makes my mind so hazy. I know I do need something to help take the edge off. I am in a pretty difficult situation right now and it is taking its tole. I will try the things you have said. I thank you so much for taking the time to write me back...

I can 150% UNDERSTAND xactly where u r coming from! I do tht and feel that way all the time! My T has told me repeatedly, there are no SUPPOSED to and NOT SUPPOSED to feel, you simply feel how you feel and that s perfectly fine.

I have many people in and out of my life that are here for my son that I speak to, but no one for me and my problems and fear with the situation with him and other areas of my life. I need to find someone to talk to, I agree. I know I will sort through these areas in my life. It just gets really tough at times. I can't say that I hear voices. It is more like a computer for instance. Sometimes when you try to shut it down, you have to wait.. Well at night I can't stop all these racing thoughts and during the day I want to think and I can't. To many thoughts at once. The least little noise I hear at night, I jump and my heart is racing so fast. I guess its just to many problems at once going on. I thank you though for all the advice from every one. I never expected as much.

Have you ever tried meditation? My T is constantly encouraging me to use that to deal with racing thoughts. Just stop for 5 or 10 minutes and focus and your breathing, imagine the thoughts are leaves blowing in the wind and just let them come and go, focus on your senses - what do you smell, what do you hear (birds singing, cars driving by, etc.) what do you feel (your feet planted firmly on the floor, the chair beneath you, etc.) the more you practice, the easier it gets, and sometimes it's just enough of a break to slow down those racing thoughts that are so overwhelming.
Keep us posted, okay?

I would like to try more meditation efforts to help out, so this is very helpful. I love the out doors and the wind is so refreshing to me. I am trying to get different ideals and do more for myself. I am so busy taken care of everyone else and all their needs that it is all just building up and I think everyone around me is taking advantage of having me take on this load.. I have got to stop for me right now,, so thank you so much and I will try and practice this..

Meditation helps me a lot with the racing thoughts. Also with depression. It's nice.