Thinking Too Much

NoMoreStory · 08-23-2009, 01:42 AM

I was watching PBS the other day and there is that "brain scan" guy who does his please-buy-my-book lectures about relationship health and the brain.

One interesting thing he said was about a part in our brains that allows us to move-on to different thoughts quickly, and how it was really quite active in one of his patients. "People like that", he said, "often get caught in cycles of negative thinking. But there are antidepressants that help calm that part of the brain."

Does this sound familiar to anyone? I mean, the tendency to over think. Or to be obsessive. You're doing fine, but a negative thought triggers a cascade of negative thoughts. When left alone too long, when bored or inactive without an outlet, it's just you and your thoughts, and they race and race until it becomes a lifestyle.

If so -- if over-thinking personalities are prone to depression (which is only my guess) -- why do the thoughts turn negative, I wonder? Why don't over-thinking people's thoughts naturally lead them to, I dunno, activity and ambition?

Sound · 08-23-2009, 02:29 AM

Damn, that's a good question...

I'm definitely one of those supposed 'over-thinkers,' although I really do object to the concept. If I have a deeper understanding than others are interested in pursuing, I just don't see that as a bad thing...
Even though, admittedly, it does get me in trouble sometimes...

Sure is frustrating, though, when people spit out that stupid "you're overthinking it" line.
No, you're under-thinking it.

hydiidepressio · 08-23-2009, 06:17 AM

Interesting. My mind just never shuts up.
Most of my thoughts are negative even if im trying to be positive.

bluebird · 08-23-2009, 06:27 AM

My brain never stops - always asking questions and analyzing every little thing, always embracing the negative and automatically trying to reject anything positive.
It's like i'm dead from the neck down but my mind is a swirl of constant activity even while i'm asleep, with crazy abstract dreams and all. It drives me crazy.

tryingtobepositive · 08-23-2009, 07:10 AM

I can relate to everything everyone has written....

NoMoreStory, I know anti-depressants help some people, however I have tried them a while back and they didn't help at all. It may be the wrong mindset to have, but for me going back to anti-depressants is like taking 2 steps back.. The thought of being on medicines for the rest of my life, would feed further into my depression....

tryingtobepositive · 08-23-2009, 07:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NoMoreStory

Does this sound familiar to anyone? I mean, the tendency to over think. Or to be obsessive. You're doing fine, but a negative thought triggers a cascade of negative thoughts. When left alone too long, when bored or inactive without an outlet, it's just you and your thoughts, and they race and race until it becomes a lifestyle.

This is exactly what I and by the sounds of the previous posts is what others also have todeal with. It's frustrating, you would think I would be successful. Unfortunately, I've failed and not been successful at all, eventhough I know I have the ability

surfcaster · 08-23-2009, 08:56 AM

my brain seems to have 2 speeds , racing and overthinking or dead, nothing, blank, drives me nuts

strawberry bitch · 08-23-2009, 09:11 AM

thats correct nomorestory. i once was asked to do a test in my school for aptitude,concentration skills, and rationale. i score fairly well in the first two, the last one was "overly rational". they asked me if i have ever been depressed due my obsession. wot?? lol yeah we critical thinkers lol if u put it that way.

im glad they have documentaries like that. it explains a bit more into the dark laberinth of depression that so little people seem to understand.

thanks for sharing!

((((((((((hugs)))))))))

depressed · 08-23-2009, 12:56 PM

I have really bad racing thoughts. I could be walking somewhere or in a peaceful place and my mind is just constantly thinking and won't shut off to enjoy it. It's particularly bad at night when I try to go to sleep. I even think about thinking, it drives me nuts.

Sweet Denial · 08-23-2009, 12:59 PM

Yes! Oh, my God, yes! =/ I think way too much about things. It always start to drive me crazy at points... It's like I can't get my brain to shut off. Over-thinking is the reason I spiral downward a majority of the time. It's not fun at all.