yep.....almost every night....you are not alone.

It's good you have recognized your problem, that's half the battle. The "trick" i use which many sound silly but it works for me ( although i have to repeat it once my mind "reboots") is an old Buddha technique i learned decades ago. Basically what you do is first some slow deep breathing, doing your best to visualize all those intrusive thoughts leaving your body with each exhale. After a few of these breaths, you then slowly exhale and say out-loud (it can be a whisper, but it must be audible) for 3 times Thinking, Thinking, Thinking , while your exhaling. It's a simple technique, it sounds silly, yes, but like i said it works for me. Hope that helps, Blaine

I should also add, for me, intrusive thoughts is simply my mind and spirits way of "reminding" me that I have issuse in my life that need attention. In western culture we are "groomed" to, act and behave a certain way, look and dress a certain way, etc... These are tough "standards" to achieve. What I do my best to do instead is simply be "me", screw society you could say, but that doesn't mean i can't continue to be kind and compassionate and live life in a honorable way with integrity. I"m, a true believer that happiness, true happiness comes from inside, not by what we have or who our friends are, but accepting ourselves. Our faults and blunders, our aches and pains, the good points as well as the bad. Have I achieved this? Well lets just say it's still a work in progress, but I will keep pluggin. Blaine

Pippilotta,

It may sound silly, but it works for me, too. Only I do the "Thinking, thinking, thinking trilogy while meditating. Each time I find myself playing out some scenario in my head, I bring myself back by saying to myself, Thinking, thinking, thinking.

As for your therapist, what keeps you from telling her aside from the fact that "she is one of the people that fall into /your/ obsessive thinking? She may be able to help.

No pun intended, but think about it.

xx
SuzA

I end up giving up on sleep. I try and make that time productive when I can and study. I get caught at 2 am with my Intro to Psych book or my online class open and going. Its kinda dorky but it helps me distract myself until a night when im tired enough to just pass out.

I've had a lot of sleepless nights or what usually happens to me is I fall asleep putting my kids to bed and wake up at midnight and can't get back to sleep. I'm so exhausted that I usually fall asleep reading to my son. When I wake up there is much on my mind that i continually dwell on. It's awful to be unable to sleep normally because of obsessive thoughts and I don't wish it on anyone!

what has helped me is getting back on 5 htp, a supplement that helps your brain produce more serotonin. . I am no longer taking lexapro or trazodone, both of which helped me sleep and/or produce more serotonin. I also have taken another supplement called Tranquil Sleep, which has melatonin in it. the 5 htp is just wonderful. I still have flashbacks and nightmares and have finally admitted that I just can't not take something for anxiety.

I have been reading lately that the symptoms of anxiety and obsessive or intrusive thoughts are such that many times people will need some kind of serotonin boost to sleep better.

In 2007 when I had a terrible bout of insomnia (so bad my blood pressure spiked dangerously) I was first put on trazodone and it was awesome, by the way, a great relief. it is cheap and it is non-addictive..

if supplements and pharmaceuticals are not a way you want to go, I can't say enough about the benefits of walking. Just taking a walk will help.

by the way I have recently really been angry about "normal" and being dateless. These concerns are what keep me up too. What I am trying to do is redefine normal. . ... dating is out of reach but I'm trying to say that is only for now, not forever. .... good luck Pippilotta. Hope you find a useful way to talk about this in therapy if you think it will help.

Sorry you are having such a hard time. I am sure everyone here has 'been there, done that', as it is a by product of the violations we have experienced. The only thing that has helped me is med.s. I still have smaller versions but nothing like it used to be.

I'm sitting here now for just that reason. If my anxiety levels are up then my brain seems to kick into this mode - I had a flash back a couple of days ago and next week I take my daughter to India on holiday so I am obsessing about everything that can go wrong. But if it wasn't India it would be my husband's job or the world economy or the house falling down.

To deal with it I generally get up, make myself a cup of tea and read or write - here or in my journal - until the moment has passed (usually 1-2 hrs) or until I'm so tired I can sleep. I have to distract my mind.