How do I stop racing thoughts?

Stan Lee said:exactly..it's the same thing every single day...just me and my computer..and I mean, I actually feel pretty good when I'm online ..but it feels like MOST people are constantly lecturing me about how I need to get out more....honestly, it's just boring

Bradley Bennett9 said:Have you ever considered that civilization managed just fine without computers? 🙂 People actually hang out with one another. This self-imposed isolation of yours is only making your mental state worse.

athma said:Look, I don't actually believe you're going to end it all. No,
because the second you reach out for help,
you're basically admitting that you actually give a damn about staying alive...
and narcissists don't kill themselves... hehe 👍

rustymaker5 said:Look, we all have that one annoying habit of manufacturing drama—creating problems where none actually exist. We blow small issues out of proportion, then just sweep them under the rug and pretend they aren't there.
But the silver lining is that since we’re the ones creating the mess, we’re also the ones who can fix it.
You have to tackle every hurdle with the mindset that a solution is always possible. There's no such thing as an unsolvable problem; there are only problems we're too intimidated to face head-on.

At the end of the day, nothing stands in your way except for your own mindset and what you believe about yourself.

So, make an effort. Start looking for the joy, the beauty, and the little moments of meaning in everything you do. Before you know it, it’ll become second nature. You won't feel so useless or let down anymore, and even when things get dark, you'll be able to spot that tiny glimmer of hope and optimism.

And never forget: you are only responsible for your own path. You can't live someone else's life, and nobody else can live yours for you. 👍

Stan Lee said:I can't just start thinking positively like that...

athma said:rustymaker5, does it actually matter if the glass is half full or half empty? It’s just two different ways of describing the exact same physical reality, isn't it?

And honestly, everything else you're bringing up—that idea that you can fundamentally rewire your brain chemistry through nothing more than autosuggestion to get those kinds of massive results... from a strictly scientific standpoint, that's just completely unfounded...

QUOTE]

Well, see, that right there is exactly what psychology is all about. Even though we're talking about the identical amount of liquid in that glass, the moment you label it "half empty," you're subconsciously triggering a sense of scarcity, whereas saying it's "half full" creates this positive headspace... it focuses on what you actually possess rather than what's missing. The difference lies entirely in how you internalize and experience your own words.
Personally, my glasses are always half full, though I'll admit that wasn't always my default setting...

As for the power of autosuggestion, that's a non-negotiable truth for me. Thought is the primary, most potent energy we have, and everything flows from that initial spark. Your thoughts belong solely to you; they are your own private domain, something no one else can strip away or alter unless you give them permission to...

Scientific validation always plays catch-up anyway. So why wait around for a lab report to tell us what's true? We might as well start practicing the good stuff right now, and let science eventually stumble upon the proof later on... 😉

athma said:Look, Arni, whether you say the glass is half full or half empty doesn't really matter—it’s just two different ways of describing the exact same thing, right? Because of that, you can't really use that cliché to distinguish between an optimist and someone who is just a "realistic pessimist."

And honestly, most of what you're claiming—that we can fundamentally rewire our brain chemistry through nothing more than positive thinking or self-suggestion—is scientifically baseless. If changing your mindset were actually that easy and radical, I’m pretty sure we would have wiped out all mental illness and antisocial behavior long ago, leaving psychologists to bask in their supposed divine triumph over the human condition.

Just think about someone struggling with anorexia. Do you honestly believe they can just wish themselves back to a healthy appetite and feel totally satisfied without any guilt just by using some "magic words"? No way. They can't.

Things are way more complicated than they seem on the surface. Our behavior is essentially the sum total of years of accumulated habits and experiences. Most experts agree that those early childhood years are the heavy hitters when it comes to shaping who we become. As the saying goes, it’s much easier to raise a child right than it is to re-educate an adult.

Also, ask yourself: what came first, the body or the consciousness? Simple matter or complex thought? Based on everything modern science tells us, biology dictates our consciousness, not the other way around. You could even apply this logic to social structures. Think about how culture, history, or the economy shapes the collective mindset of a population. Of course, there's a feedback loop where consciousness influences the physical world (or, if you listen to Marxists, ideology shapes material relations), but that influence is nowhere near as powerful as the biological foundation.

For example, how much can you actually help a patient with lung cancer by telling them to stay positive? Sure, it might lift their spirits a little, but it isn't going to cure the tumor, right? Or look at how much actual policy can improve social welfare or environmental health when the system is built on pure capitalism and the calculated interests of private corporations. It might help a tiny bit, but not enough, because capital and power are concentrated in the hands of people who don't care about the common good. I don't see why that wouldn't apply to mental health, too—our thoughts are driven by our brain chemistry, and they are entirely dependent on it.

Now, I'm a technical guy by trade, but if I were giving advice to Stalin, I'd tell him to focus on his lifestyle instead. He needs more fresh air, a better diet (maybe skipping the meat), less time spent on porn (to keep his lecithin and phosphorus levels up for better mental clarity), and he needs to find a hobby. Also, needs to step away from the computer since he's clearly addicted, and cut back on cigarettes or coffee if he’s even using them. He doesn't need to go looking for company if he's feeling lonely, because most social circles are forced anyway; he'd be better off just picking up a good novel.

Alma said:Anna: "Thought is the primary and most powerful energy, and everything starts from there."
Can you actually provide some evidence to back that up?
Because honestly, sometimes people just act like a rock rolling down a hill
and, without even realizing what's actually driving them, they go along with this idea that
they're somehow the ones causing their own movement.

P.S. I'm dying to see an answer here, since nobody else seems to have managed to find one anywhere.