Welcome back for another round of the Battle of the Minds!!
As I discussed in my last post, I decided that enough is enough. I am beyond sick and tired of these recurring and intrusive thoughts that have marred my entire life. It is now WAR!!!
Please see last week’s post below for Part 1.
Fear
Before we dive in, I definitely think one component of this whole thing for me and for anyone else suffering from recurring, bothersome thoughts is fear. I have discussed this previously. I personally think that fear is at the root of intrusive thoughts. Think about it. If it was something great and wonderful that crosses our minds, we wouldn’t mind that at all. And actually, we look at good thoughts more like daydreaming rather than being intrusive or bothersome.
So, I am challenging myself (and you, as well) to face those fears. Whatever is troubling you or being intrusive, etc. FACE IT. Have the courage to face it head on. Perhaps that will lessen the thoughts.
Now. How does one declare war on their own mind? Very simply: It is like a “we’re mad as hell, and we’re not going to take it anymore!!” mindset, no pun intended.
And how do I plan to engage in a battle with my own mind?
By being more vigilant as to what I will and won’t allow into my thought processes. It has been said that we cannot control what we think. And to some extent that is true. However, I do believe that you don’t have to fall for the negative thinking or go down the rabbit hole, as I like to put it, of a negative thought. Just don’t feed the monster.
For example, if I think ‘oh my God! What if one day I will go blind,’ I have three choices (probably more than that), but here are my top 3:
- You can talk back to that thought and say ‘no I’m not’ or ruminate on it, which actually makes things worse.
- Just ignore it.
- Think about something else.
Talking back to your intrusive thoughts
This may sound strange, but it is true that we talk back to our thoughts. We wonder ‘why did I think that?’ which takes us down the rabbit hole of ‘there must be something wrong with me for thinking that thought.’ This is when we get into ruminating over our negative, intrusive thoughts, which gets us into trouble. I know it has gotten me into trouble lots of time.
I have read many articles on the subject of intrusive thoughts, and that is the one thing they all say you should never do is engage with these horrible thoughts. That is only going to make them worse and stick around much longer. So, in other words, don’t talk back to them (or in this case, “think” back to them – ha!). Just let them pass through your mind. Which brings us to the second point.
Ignore them
Easier said than done, I know. But you can do it. We have sooooo many thoughts that pass through our minds every single day, that when you think about it, there are those that we ignore. They are so quick and so fleeting, that we don’t even think about them. For example, you may think “I need to go to the store.” Okay, you realize that and don’t even pay attention to it anymore. So, how come we cannot do the same with a horrible thought such as ‘I could just run over that small child’? Oh how gruesome, but our brains are wired that when something like that comes into our minds we feel grotesque, evil, and strange. So much so that we want to turn this awful thought around and around and around in our heads. We want to know WHY we even thought that. We wonder if there is something wrong with us. And no, actually, there isn’t. It is our minds. And as I have realized we are NOT our thoughts.
Think about something else
I discussed in yet another blog post a while ago about changing the channel in your mind. If you feel like you are stuck, change that channel. Think of something else. Allow your thoughts to be flooded with another, more positive, happier thought. For example, ‘I could just run over that small child’ or ‘oh my God! What if I go blind,’ why not think of beautiful flowers? Or a trip to Europe? Or eating good food? Who says we have to be stuck on the horrible thinking?
And if you are having trouble thinking of something else, distract yourself with music. Try talking to a friend. Watch television. Read a book. Be around people. Something/anything to get your mind off things. By the way, check out the blog post where I discuss changing that channel and other helpful tips in dealing with your intrusive thoughts. Please see below:
Affirmations
You’ve heard of them PLENTY of times by now. Why not use them in your/our battle against intrusive thoughts? I do them EVERY day, and I find it helpful. When all else fails, I will fall back on them. One of my personal faves is “no person, place, THOUGHT, feeling or thing has any power over me.”
But here is a list of some affirmations that I use daily that are more in line with mental health issues:
- I no longer allow my thoughts to interfere with my life.
- My mind is unstuck and normal and working properly.
- I refuse to worry or obsess needlessly.
- I am no longer fearing the future, and I am not catastrophizing anymore.
- I will not let my thoughts bother or upset me.
- My mind is clear and free of fear.
- I am no longer allowing recurring and intrusive thoughts to hold my mind hostage.
- Stop being afraid of your own mind.
These are just some of my own personal affirmations. Feel free to use them or create your own.
Another way I am amping up the fight is to simply meditate even more. I go inside my mind and picture the best possible images I can. I even see myself going way outside of my body into outer space and seeing swirls of smoke (I’ve heard meditation gurus say to visualize balloons to represent your thoughts. So, choose whatever you like). The swirls of smoke represent my negative thoughts that I just allow to move seamlessly past me. I have no connection to them. I pay no attention to them as they float by.
And regardless of your belief system, prayers can also be helpful.
Overall, I have decided to not allow myself to be eaten alive by my own mind. It is a struggle, yes, but manageable. I truly do believe that sometimes it is an extreme deep dive into your consciousness and also even your own life and what is going on with you. ALWAYS check in with yourself to see how you are feeling, holding up, etc. Keep fighting the good fight.
And, of course, if the battle is too much, by all means seek professional help.
Again, I wish to thank all of you for reading and continuing with me on my/our journey. And until the next time, please be mentally well!
DEREK’S DISCLAIMER: I am not a medical professional, neither am I giving any medical or legal advice. If you are seeking help from a doctor or an attorney, please consult said professionals. These are my personal thoughts and feelings on the subjects discussed, and my blog is my own personal experiences and journey with mental imbalance. Thanking you in advance!
