A
male
age
51-59,
anonymous
writes:I am a terrible brooder. I seem to have a mind that wont ease up and give me a break from the moment i wake up to the time i go to sleep. My brain concentrates on particular issues that are going on in my life to the point of obsession until it figures things out. The problem is it wont then stop, it will replay certain thoughts, events, memories over and over and over again to the point i cant get away from it which makes me feel lousy and exhausted. I have a very good brain in terms of if i do have a problem or something has happened in my life that i am not happy about, eg, the breakdown of a relationship etc my mind will concentrate on that until every possible piece of information has been identified and understood and i always come out with a better knowledge and learning in order to not make certain mistakes again. This I am quite pleased with and wouldn't want to change as it does make me a better person day by day as i move through life. However once i have got to that point i need to figure out how to then switch my brain off and stop brooding and going over things time and time again so that i can move on and stop feeling dragged down and miserable. Does anyone have any advice?
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female
reader, chrisaddict  +, writes (15 May 2009):
I am exactly the same way, in fact I'm in that brooding mode right now, picking apart the pieces of a relationship I think is over...I worked out today to ease it, helped some.not a perfect fix. I guess I'd say don't worry about worrying,some of us are just wired that way...we are problem solvers and thinkers. My mind has me tired tonight,my body even aches but I'm thankful that I know I've got the ability to think my way out of my problem. Shed some positive light on things...it might help.
A
female
reader, Sista  +, writes (14 May 2009):
I have a very similiar mentality to yourself; I am capable of brooding over an incident for up to two years! And even when I have arrived at "the answer" and learnt the lessons, I find it difficult to move on. Unfortunately, deep breathing and excercise and all the rest of it dont really help as I am capable of continueing to run my mental loop through all of these activities. Yes, it is exhausting and ultimately futile.
This kind of thinking is ritualistic and can be a characteristic of mild obsessive compulsive disorder:medication can help. So can affirmations, for example, " I release the past, the past has no power over me. I am free to move forward". Try repeating this to yourself when the obsessive thoughts come up.
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A
male
reader, Devlin +, writes (13 March 2009):
I have the same problem and it drives me nuts. Only this morning a driver hooted me because he though I was hesitating at a junction (of which i wasn't I might add). All morning I have brooded about it! Can't get the scenario out of my head - round and round. My advice, distraction! This seems to be the common theme in the answers already given. As a mental health professional we advise distraction techniques to preoccupied clients. So, distract yourself with ANYTHING that will give your mind a rest. Personally, I came to this site and gave this answer, it helped :)
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A
female
reader, anonymous, writes (4 November 2008): HiyaProblems can haunt us and tire our minds and we look for understanding and solutions. One way of easing this is to loose the need to FEEL IN CONTROL, try and let things UNFOLD and stop JUDGING yourself. As Bruce Lee said ''be like water my freind''. Flow in life and don't try and form water to make the shapes you want. You will find more peace of mind if you let go a little. Look on any mistake as experience and not failure. I wish you well and SIMPLICITY often is the quickest and easiest ANSWER''be like water my freind'
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A
female
reader, sarcy24 +, writes (4 November 2008):
 I am identical to this going over every point, thrashing it out, playing different sides, going over and over the scenario until I can do no more with it. As you say this is very useful but very exhausting when you want to switch off. I have found keeping physically busy helps stop the brain going into such depth, any sport or gardening, and making yourself very tired by working hard. This can also be a sign of depression. Switching off once you have covered the point to your satisfaction is very hard if you are well organised and like no loose ends. A bit of aimless tv where you are removed mentally from your own mind can help, as can a deep bath with aromatherpay oils and other forms of relaxtion/ meditation. I replay certain things that i am not happy with over and over again until I reach a satisfactory conclusion or acceptance but even this is sometimes not enough and the brain will start whirring again. Reading can stop this. Also when you feel the thought entering your brain stop yourself and say I have already discussed this. thought about this, I don't wish to do this anymore so now please go away. You can train you brain to do this but it takes time. Deep breathing, physical activity and relaxing can all aid in stopping this cycle
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A
female
reader, Emilysanswers +, writes (4 November 2008):
It does sound like you need something to calm you down.If you are comfortable taking pills to help you relax then head over to the doctors and talk to him about it.If you are not then you could try some other things first.You say your brain tires you out... But what do you do with your body all day? If you are not getting physically tired then it is no wonder that your brain goes into overdrive.I think you should take up a new sport. Perhaps running but that is pretty boring so your brain could still go off on one.You could go and join your local boxing club and just pummel a punch bag and get taught to shadow box, block and duck and everything else. You don't have to go as far as getting punched in the face.There is also fencing and any number of other sports that will force your brain to think about what you are doing because if you worry about what to do about your problems you'll get distracted and lose the game / get smacked.Do something to make you tired physically.Also buy an Xbox or a game cube (they are both going for pennies now Wii and 360 are out) and buy some games so you can loose yourself in a haze of blowing up zombies or fighting drug dealers in a jungle.Good Luck!! xx
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A
female
reader, Reebe +, writes (4 November 2008):
 Have you thought you could be depressed? It sounds like it to me, going over everything.
Even if your not, go and see your doctor maybe there is something your avoiding thinking about, by thinking about everything else?
Good Luck.
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A
female
reader, Reebe +, writes (4 November 2008):
Have you thought you could be depressed? It sounds like it to me, going over everything.
Even if your not, go and see your doctor maybe there is something your avoiding thinking about, by thinking about everything else?
Good Luck.
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