https://youtu.be/gJctVD_oMx4?si=QF4oBirGPQd4IN7q

I’ve been reading a lot of the past few years on neuroscience. It’s fascinating.

I just read something about how your thoughts literally change the shape your brain, both good and bad thoughts. Constant negative thinking or complaining shrinks the brain. It weakens the brain’s frontal lobes which are responsible for decision making and focus. Also with negative thinking your brain assumes there is danger. It’s like training your brain to react to every benign thing. Over time this become engrained patterns.

But you can also rewire your brain too (neuroplasty) by consciously reframing or using different words.

So much of the anxiety I have experienced in my life I’m sure is directly related to experiences and thought patterns that wired my brain in a way that tries to protect me but it’s protecting me from a phantom, not real danger. I think having awareness of that has helped me be more conscious of my reactions and thought processes, which has helped to undo some of that damage, to rewire my brain, but it’s still lingers a bit. I can just now more easily redirect and reframe my thoughts. In doing that you are kind of retraining your brain.

have you researched, "brain plasticity?" routing new neural pathways has become an obsession with me.

for what it's worth
mopping floors is much easier than shopping or going to garage sales for me. too much interaction goes into shopping.

Thanks arfie and rmb! I appreciate your input. I have been following Dr. Daniel Amen for a few years. I don't retain information like I did when I was younger. I have watched videos on neuroplasticity. arfie, I remember back in the early 90s, I would complain to my co-worker about not having energy to clean my ferret cage and she would retort that I seemed to not have trouble going to the mall on my way home. I was tired but wanted to eat in the food court. That was easier to me than cleaning the ferret cage. rmb, I mostly have trouble with negative thoughts on my morning rides to work. In a nutshell, I am afraid to have a positive thought, thinking that when I do, something may (and has) gone wrong. I kill the thoughts by saying "cancel, cancel". When I have a positive thought, I don't necessarily have a negative thought but I am afraid that it may be automatic. Like I am afraid to think that my car is running good. I'm kind of raining on my own parade and don't know what to do about it. I am proud of the fact that I haven't been in therapy for a year and hadn't been needing it for longer. My therapist reaches out to me now and then. I don't know if she can help me with this. Last night, I listened to the video that I attached here again. I forgot the part of how my environment affects me. So this morning, I put a lot of things away in cabinets. I really need to go through my clothes. Lately, my mind goes blank when I try to think of something to wear. Another thing that I have discovered is how fear runs my life (maybe?). I think that I am afraid to actually have a clean house and car because that would leave me with the realization that I don't have anything going on. I get excited when I think of my clothes because I have so many that when I go through them, it is a dopamine fix. If I go through them, I won't have that sense of having something new. This all doesn't help that I have OCD and ADHD. In fact, as to my OCD, I will openly admit that I partially hang on to it because it keeps my mind occupied. I have been afraid to be without it. Thanks again girls! Let's keep this topic alive! Have a great day!

Yes, that hit of dopamine thing is real. We are complicated human beings.

Yes hasty, that we are!

Tomorrow and Sunday, I am planning to stay home. I really have nowhere to be. My house should have my full attention. I am stoked!

Good for you! I think if you put good thoughts out there they will come back to you.

I soo have that problem of going to bed at night thinking and worrying about things that I cannot control. I try and shut that down and make myself only good thoughts....but my mind races trying to find a good thought. lol

Wishing you only good thoughts.

Thanks carly! I'm sorry that you have a hard time when you go to bed. Have a great weekend!