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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 5 of 5. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Phil on March 31, 2002, at 5:51:57
Thought stopping. . .
Posted by Bekka H. on March 31, 2002, at 4:10:07Hi everyone.
Have any of you had any success in stopping intrusive, obsessive ruminations, thoughts, etc. WITHOUT adding another medicine? I'm not talking about psychotic thoughts or anything like that. I've been bothered for quite some time by some upsetting thoughts. I guess it might be called obsessional thinking, but it feels so bad at times, I think it's a little like a "mild" PTSD, with flashbacks, etc. If I add more meds, I'll just turn into a mindless blob that never gets out of bed, so I'm hoping for some behavioral techniques.
Thanks for your suggestions.
Bekka
Posted by allisonm on March 31, 2002, at 20:06:07
In reply to re: Thought stopping. Redirect from pb, posted by Phil on March 31, 2002, at 5:51:57
I agree with Phil:
"I guess to get better we must somehow learn to live in the moment, consciously trying to focus on what's in front of us that moment."My pdoc and friends who have been in similar places as I have, all have told me this. Drugs help some, but a lot depends on trying to live in the moment. Easier said than done.
Good luck.
Posted by Bekka H. on March 31, 2002, at 22:55:03
In reply to re: Thought stopping. Redirect from pb, posted by allisonm on March 31, 2002, at 20:06:07
> I agree with Phil:
> "I guess to get better we must somehow learn to live in the moment, consciously trying to focus on what's in front of us that moment."
> My pdoc and friends who have been in similar places as I have, all have told me this. Drugs help some, but a lot depends on trying to live in the moment. Easier said than done.
> Good luck.
*********************************************Hi Alison,
Living in the moment. . . I'm trying, I'm trying. . . Thank you for your help.
Bekka
Posted by Dr. Bob on March 31, 2002, at 23:44:25
In reply to re: Thought stopping. Redirect from pb, posted by Phil on March 31, 2002, at 5:51:57
[redirected from http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20020327/msgs/101105.html]
Re: Thought stopping. . .
Posted by OldSchool on March 31, 2002, at 20:41:23
In reply to http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20020327/msgs/101067.htmlHi Bekka, whenever I start having bad negative type "rumination" thoughts what always works for me is a nice, hard workout. Aerobic stuff. After thirty minutes of swimming laps, I get out of the pool and find that those bad thoughts have cleared and are gone for a day or two. Of course, you have to keep it up.
Ive found this works better than any drug, including anti-psychotics, for "bad thoughts."
Old School
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Why is this one a RE-DIRECT? It seems on topic (nm)
Posted by Janelle on March 31, 2002, at 21:32:32
In reply to http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20020327/msgs/101067.html----
Re: Thought stopping. . .Phil
Posted by Bekka H. on March 31, 2002, at 22:15:38
In reply to http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20020327/msgs/101073.htmlHi Phil.
Thank you for the help. I am going to buy that book. I'll try anything at this point. The meds aren't helping much, and when they do, they poop out so soon, that I'm ready to try more non-pharmaceutical approaches now. Mind over mind is much more difficult than mind over matter!
Bekka
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Re: Thought stopping. . .Johnx2
Posted by Bekka H. on March 31, 2002, at 22:20:45
In reply to http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20020327/msgs/101076.htmlHi John,
Well, yes, I've been going for therapy, too, but my thoughts are quite persistent. I'm trying everything at this point.
Thank so much. By the way, I saw the movie you suggested. It was hilarious. I imagine all the transportation problems that Steve Martin and John Candy went through are much worse now, considering all the heightened security. That movie helped stop my negative thoughts for a while!
Thank you for your help. Bekka
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Re: Agree with John-Phil
Posted by Bekka H. on March 31, 2002, at 22:25:51
In reply to http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20020327/msgs/101087.htmlPhil,
I'm very sorry to hear that your therapist died.
Bekka
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Re: Thought stopping. . .Dinah
Posted by Bekka H. on March 31, 2002, at 22:29:13
In reply to http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20020327/msgs/101092.htmlHi Dinah,
I will buy that book, too. It looks as if Amazon is going to be getting a lot of my business! Yes, our thoughts are so tenacious, aren't they? They do seem to have a life of their own. It's hard to believe that I am the one giving them that life.
Thanks so much for your help.
Bekka
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Re: Thought stopping. . Old School
Posted by Bekka H. on March 31, 2002, at 22:36:55
In reply to Re: Thought stopping. . ., posted by OldSchool on March 31, 2002, at
20:41:23Hi Old School,
Yes, you are absolutely right! Exercise, especially swimming, is wonderful. This weekend was particularly bad for my tenacious thoughts because the place where I work out was closed due to the Easter holiday. How could they do that? I get so angry when they close. I have relatives out in sunny Southern California who have a lap pool in their back yard, and they hardly ever use it. I would be in that pool every morning if I had one in my back yard!
Thank you for your thoughts. I know that exercise is THE BEST antidepressant, but sometimes I have to be reminded.
Bekka
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Why is this a RE-DIRECT? It seems on topic-Janelle
Posted by Bekka H. on March 31, 2002, at 22:46:06
In reply to Why is this one a RE-DIRECT? It seems on topic (nm), posted by Janelle on March 31, 2002, at 21:32:32Hi Janelle,
I agree. All of the suggestions given to me are treatments with as much merit as the medications. In addition, exercise-induced release of endorphins, etc. is just as good as, if not better than, the brain chemicals released by the store-bought drugs. I'll bet cognitive therapy and meditation cause release of other brain chemicals that are therapeutic in their own right.
Bekka
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Re: Thought stopping. . Old School
Posted by OldSchool on March 31, 2002, at 22:48:57
In reply to Re: Thought stopping. . Old School, posted by Bekka H. on March 31, 2002, at 22:36:55Bekka, ANY form of aerobic exercise works. I swim laps, others jog or go to aerobics class. Others ride a bike or brisk walk. My point is the form of exercise doesnt matter at all, just so long as it gets your heart rate up for thirty minutes or so.
I swear doing that clears out those "bad thoughts" real good.
Old School
Posted by Fi on April 2, 2002, at 9:56:39
In reply to re: Thought stopping. Redirect from pb, posted by Phil on March 31, 2002, at 5:51:57
I think that's just the sort of thing that cognitive therapy deals with? Might be worth a try, anyway. There are books about it if its difficult getting to see someone with the skills.
I dont have any particularly bad ones, but do find I can sometimes notice I am getting into loads of negative thinking/worrying (especially at night) and consciously decide to stop thinking about that and think about something else. Needs to be something absorbing, so planning a shopping list or similar works better for me than imagining a relaxing situation. For me, anyway.
I think it would be harder if the worries were 'louder', but works for my mild ones.
Fiona
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