How do I stop racing thoughts?

dersu said:Listen, kid,

suicide actually hurts!
It isn't just some "close your eyes and it's over" thing.
And who can honestly guarantee that you won't exist in some other way after life ends?
Who knows where your soul goes? For all we know, whatever comes after death could be even more agonizing than what you're dealing with right now...

There’s absolutely no promise that death offers anything better than living.

I personally know someone who jumped from a seventh-floor apartment; they survived, but ended up with lifelong disabilities, completely unable to function without constant help from others!😱

athma said:Arni, whether a glass is half-full or half-empty is really just semantics, isn't it? It’s just two different ways to describe the exact same thing. Because of that, I don't think you can use that example to distinguish between a true optimist and someone who's just an "experienced optimist."

And honestly, everything else you mentioned—the idea that we can fundamentally rewire our brain chemistry through nothing more than positive thinking—is pretty scientifically unfounded. If changing our mindset was actually that easy and produced such radical results, I’m certain all those people struggling with severe mental health issues or social deviations would have vanished from the face of the earth by now, leaving psychologists to celebrate a total victory over the human condition.

Just look at someone battling anorexia. Do you honestly believe they could simply wish their way back to a healthy relationship with food, feeling completely satisfied and guilt-free, just by using some magical words? No, they can't.

Things are much more complicated than they seem on the surface. Our behavior is the cumulative result of years of experiences and habits baked into us; most experts agree that those formative years during childhood play the biggest role in shaping who we become later in life. As the saying goes, it's much easier to raise a child right than it is to re-educate an adult.

Also, consider this: what comes first, the body or the consciousness—simple or complex matter? Based on what modern science tells us, physical matter definitely comes first, meaning our biological makeup dictates our consciousness rather than the other way around. You could even apply this logic to social structures; culture, history, and economics largely dictate the mindsets of the people living within them. Now, I’m not suggesting the reverse connection—consciousness affecting the body, or what Marxists might call ideology driving material social relations—isn't real, but that influence is significantly weaker than the biological driver.

For instance, how much can we actually change the prognosis of a lung cancer patient just by telling them to stay positive? Sure, it might make them feel a little better emotionally, but it’s not going to cure the disease, right? Or take politics: how much can current policy truly impact social welfare, environmental health, or individual responsibility when the whole system is built on capitalist, private interests? It probably helps a little, but not enough, because capital and power are concentrated in the hands of individuals who aren't necessarily looking out for the common good. I see no reason why the same wouldn't apply to mental disorders, where every thought we have is ultimately driven by our brain chemistry.

As someone who leans more toward the hard sciences, I’d suggest Stacy focus on her lifestyle habits instead. She should spend more time outdoors, tweak her diet (maybe regular meals and cutting back on meat), and perhaps cut back on certain habits to maintain the nutrients needed for mental clarity and vitality. Finding a hobby would help too. She also needs to step away from the computer—it seems she's a bit hooked—and maybe scale back on caffeine or cigarettes if she uses them. She doesn't need to force herself to be social if she's feeling lonely; most social circles can be quite draining anyway. She'd probably be better off just getting lost in a good novel.

In the medical field, we recognize "psychosomatic illnesses"—physical ailments triggered by psychological factors, or put simply, "negative attitudes and negative thinking."
That said, positive thoughts can certainly influence a patient's overall state of being.😈
Honestly, I’ve always felt that optimistic people tend to stay physically healthier, mostly because they don't waste precious energy obsessing over things that might never even happen. It's like they just refuse to burn themselves out on constant worry about an uncertain future. 🙂
From what the data shows, optimists actually suffer from fewer illnesses and generally find more success in life compared to their pessimistic counterparts. 😎
So, it really isn't just about that old cliché of whether a glass is half-full or half-empty! 😉

Peach said:Density? 😕 Never heard of it.

Evolutionary development stages
( higher densities correlate to higher levels of consciousness )

Stana said:It’s been going on for years... suicide and all that... but lately, it’s constant. I keep thinking about it. BUT then I spiral when I think about my family because things would be rough for them. So I back off for a bit, but before long, I'm right back in the pit. Is this depression or what? I was just looking at old photos of my dad back when he was healthy, before that hellish war, and seeing him now... it just makes me want to end it. I can't deal with the thoughts. What is left of a person? I'll probably just take all that anger and rage out on whatever animal happens to be crapping near me. I don't know. If this gets me locked up or banned, fine.

And for those of you who want to say "go kill yourself," tell me exactly how.

So many of us are searching for light in the darkness hanging over our lives... longing for just one spark of hope in our own nonexistence. The despair is too massive to fill the void inside, and when everything else vanishes, all we have left is pain. In a final cry, we call upon every tear in the world just to make the agony stop, but it doesn't work. It keeps breathing. Maybe it's because we look to the sky for stars to guide us, while ignoring the brightest one: ourselves.
You put it in your title: how to get rid of crazy thoughts? You're asking for help, but from what I can see, you aren't accepting any of the suggestions given. You always find an excuse. I bet if someone offered you a thousand more solutions, you'd find a reason why every single one is stupid. Don't take this personally—I don't agree with half of what people suggest either. And I won't hide behind doctors or clinical talk. I know what you actually want. You want some quick ritual you can do in five minutes, sleep on it, wake up the next morning, and boom—everything is gone. No more pain. You say you want a way out, but you reject every single thing offered to you. You're almost stubbornly insisting on wanting to die just because someone tells you what to do. It's like these suggestions push you even closer to the edge. I know you want to die, but you also want to live—just not like this. It's hard to accept that we are the only ones who can change this way of being. People always say suicide isn't the answer, but that's just a fact. I know you want the pain to vanish, but believe me, the pain can fade by staying alive. You don't need superhuman strength to succeed; you already have everything you need. The advice to stay positive is solid. Obviously, it doesn't fix everything overnight. But try, because you can, and because you want to live. It's hard, but it's worth it. You might not see it now, but isn't it worth sticking around to see if it's true? Put in all the effort and strength you have—and you have more than you realize—and if you still fail, then come back and say: "I tried, and I couldn't." Don't throw in the towel right at the start. Don't just throw your hands up and scream that you can't change anything. Well, of course you can't if you truly believe you can't. I know it feels heavy and the depression is deep, but listen: you can do this. Just take one day. Try for just one day to tell yourself: I am strong, I am capable. At the very least, kick thoughts like "I should kill myself" or "I'm a loser" out of your head. When they come, just don't engage. Do that for one day and see how you feel by the evening. It's tough, but commit to it and you'll see results. It won't be spectacular, but it's a start. Besides, you said every day feels the same and boring anyway. So do this. Or are you going to say that annoys you, too? I'm not saying it isn't boring and difficult, but try because you are able. Does it make sense to just toss your potential aside? It's like if Mike Tyson had to lift a five-pound bag and came out crying, "I can't do it, it's too heavy!" That's what you're doing. It feels too hard, but you haven't even tried.
You aren't the only one stuck in this kind of mess. There are plenty of us, and honestly, some of us are dealing with much worse. We’re still fighting through it, and you can too. If you fall, you get back up. The point is, you aren't in this alone.

I’d write something more here, but honestly, I don't even know what's left to say after reading through all this...
Basically, everyone is created... in the beginning there was word, blah, blah, blah... we’re made by whoever made us, and we have a responsibility to carry that existence around because it exists for a reason and a cause—which is all the other beings we coexist with that we're either directly or indirectly responsible for... One being more, one less... maybe I’ll go fishing since I actually feel bad about killing fish, even though they're my favorite food.
And sorry to the OP, I'm not addressing you personally, but you've read all of this too, so...
Personally, I struggle with uncomfortable emotions, crazy thoughts, insane ideas that almost have a sense to them but are nearly impossible to prove, etc., etc...
I don't know, Virginia Woolf after years and years of all that crap just walked down to the riverbank one day and drowned herself, and I still (get this! I *still*!) can't justify that kind of thing. Maybe she just ran out of things to write?
There was a time when I was on pills, these ones, those ones... now I don't hang out with people much anymore. I miss them, I could, but I won't. The sounds get to me, random passersby... I'd rather go anywhere else than kill myself.
I figure your immediate environment matters a lot... if it’s crushing you, or if you’re crushing it, it’s better to just move away a bit, bring in something new...
School matters, sure, but not that much...
These are Zebena times...

Look, life is way too short to waste on this kind of nonsense. The whole point is to spend your days doing what actually makes you happy—whether that’s gaming, watching movies, sports, or music. It doesn't matter. Society tries to police certain things because of past mistakes, creating rules that end up stripping away all the fun. Just do your thing. Your spirit matters more than those moods that try to dictate how you feel. Moods are just chemistry—basically artificial. For instance, when I'm feeling down, lonely, or hopeless, I just treat it like a phase. It's like dealing with an annoying neighbor who won't leave you alone; you just wait it out. Life is honestly just one big cosmic joke that higher powers are laughing at. And this obsession with going out? I don't get it. Back in the day, you couldn't call yourself a witch or say you were following someone, but today, if you don't head downtown on a Saturday night, people act like you're a total outcast. What is wrong with everyone lately? Is everyone really this shallow? Nobody stops to think about the heavy baggage they're carrying around. Prejudices have absolutely wrecked the world.
The hippie generation understood this perfectly

briskgardener2 said:So many of us are just wandering through the darkness clouding our lives... desperately searching for even a single spark of hope amidst the nothingness. The despair feels too heavy to fill the void inside, and when everything else fades away, all that’s left is the ache. In our final moments, we might cry out to the heavens, begging for the agony to end, but it doesn't... it just keeps breathing right along with us. Maybe it's because we keep looking at the stars for guidance, completely missing the brightest light of all: ourselves.
In your title, you ask how to stop the racing, dark thoughts... and you say you're looking for help. But from what I can see, you aren't actually accepting any of the advice being offered; you just find a reason to reject it every single time. Honestly, I bet if someone gave you a thousand different solutions, you’d find a way to call every single one of them stupid. Don't take this the wrong way—I don't agree with half the stuff people suggest either, and I'm not going to hide behind some psychiatrist or all that clinical talk. I know what you...what you really want is a quick little ritual. Something you can do in five minutes, sleep on, and wake up the next morning thinking, "Yay! It's gone! The pain is over!" You probably won't admit that, though. You'll claim you want to change, that you need a way out, but notice how you find a flaw in every single suggestion? You’re almost digging your heels in, stubbornly insisting you'll end it just because someone tells you what to do, right? It’s like those suggestions are pushing you even closer to the edge. I get that you want to die, but you also want to live—just not like this. It’s hard to swallow the fact that we are the only ones who can change this way of living. People always say "suicide isn't the answer," but that's just a blunt reality. I know you want the pain to vanish, but believe me, it can fade by staying alive... you don't need superhuman strength to make that happen. You already have everything you need. The idea of trying to think positively is solid advice. Of course, it won't be fixed overnight. Just try, because you can and because you want to live... it's brutal, but it's worth it. Maybe you can't see it now, but isn't it worth sticking around just to see if it's true? Put in all that effort and grit (which you have way more of than you realize), and if you still fail, then come back and say: "Okay, I tried, and it didn't work." But don't throw in the towel right at the starting line. Don't just throw your hands up and scream, "I can't change anything!" Well, of course you can't if you truly believe that. I know you're exhausted and the depression is deep, but listen: you can do this. Just take it one day at a time. Try for just one day to tell yourself: "I am strong, I am capable." Just for one day, kick those thoughts like "I should just end it" or "I'm a loser" out of your head. When they creep in, just don't let them stay. Do that for one day and see how you feel by bedtime. It's hard, but commit to it and you'll see results. It won't be some grand cinematic moment, but it's a start. Besides, you said every day feels the same and boring anyway. So why not try this? Or are you going to tell me this annoys you, too? I'm not saying it isn't boring and miserable, but give it a shot because you're able to. Does it make sense to just toss your potential into the trash?! It’s like if Mike Tyson had to pick up a five-pound bag and just started sobbing, "I can't do it, it's too heavy!" (?!) That's exactly what you're doing. It's "too hard," but you haven't even stepped onto the field yet.
You aren't the only one stuck in this mess. There are plenty of us, and honestly, many are dealing with much darker shit than this, yet we keep fighting. You can too. And even if you stumble, you'll get back up. The point is, you aren't alone.

exactly

Stana said:exactly

You know that’s just not possible...
What are you actually trying to say? Your answers are getting incredibly brief. Have you given up?

Check out who my profile looks like:

It's kind of a mix between these two:

briskgardener2 said:You know that’s just not happening...
What are you actually getting at here? Why are your replies so short? Have you just given up?

Honestly, I don't even know myself... maybe I have. I think I'll hang in there for a little while longer and see how things go. But once I finally hit my breaking point and have the chance, I'll probably make a move... and it won't be anything positive.

Stana said:I honestly don't know. Maybe I am. I think I'll wait just a little longer to see how things play out. But once I hit my breaking point and have the chance, I'll probably make a move... and it won't be a positive one.

As long as you're waiting, you're giving yourself an out. Deep down, you already know what you're looking for, even if you aren't ready to admit it to yourself. What are you actually waiting for?
Take a look inside and find the answer.

briskgardener2 said:The longer you hesitate, the more you're just setting yourself up for disappointment. Deep down, you already know what you're looking for, you're just too afraid to admit it. So, what are you actually waiting for?
maybe try looking inward for once and find the answer

Man, I would really love an answer to this one.

Stana said:I'd love an answer to this.

You can find it if you look inward instead of searching elsewhere. Honestly, it feels like you're just afraid of the answer. If you weren't, you would've found it by now, right?

briskgardener2 said:You can find it if you actually look inward instead of searching for answers out there. Honestly, it feels like you’re just scared of what you might find... am I right?

I wouldn't say I'm afraid of the truth... it's more that I want to know it, but I don't feel "stable" enough to actually handle it. Just thinking about this has me spiraling right now because I can't even decide who I root for more—LeBron or Steph—since I've got a bit of everything in me. But for me, whenever things get heavy, my mind goes straight to suicide. That's the real issue; it's an incredibly hard knot to untie.

Stana said:It’s not that I’m afraid of the answer. I just want to know it, but I feel like I’m not "normal" enough to actually reach it. Right now, I'm spiraling because I can't decide if I'm rooting for Kareem or Morales—there's too much of both in me. But for all my struggles, suicide feels like the only way out. That's the issue. It feels impossible or just too damn hard to fix.

Wanting an answer doesn't mean you aren't afraid. I'm speaking from experience here. I was once certain I wanted the truth, only to realize what I was actually facing was fear. Specifically, the fear of failing.
Why does it matter so much who you're rooting for?
The way you frame a problem determines how it looks to you. If you convince yourself it's impossible, then it is. You close every door before you even try. I'm telling you it's possible and it isn't as hard as it seems. Of course, suicide looks like a solution when you don't see any other exits. Maybe you just need to shift your focus to see the path. The real question is whether you have the guts to do it.
You've become so accustomed to this cycle of self-destruction that you're afraid to change anything. It's easy to stick to the same old pattern because it feels safe. But that pattern is nothing but self-humiliation and death. Changing things means facing the unknown, and that's what scares you.

Stana said:it’s not even that I’m scared of getting an answer... I just really want to know it, but I guess I’m not "normal" enough to actually reach it... honestly, I’m spiraling right now because I can't decide if I'm rooting for Kareem or Morales more since there's just so much going on inside me... but for me, suicide always feels like the solution to everything... that’s just the thing, it seems impossible or maybe just way too hard to fix

Suicide is just an escape hatch.
What exactly are you running from? Do you even know?

Bradley Bennett9 said:Suicide is just an escape hatch.
What exactly are you running from? Do you even know?

about yourself?

Listening to you, I can tell you’re still incredibly young, probably just finishing up high school, and honestly, I could practically be your mom, so take this to heart. At your age, nobody has truly figured themselves out yet. One day you’re just a kid obsessed with video games and classes, and the next, you’re suddenly an adult staring down a future without having any clue who you actually are or what you want to do with your life. Even though I’ve moved past those years, I still vividly remember being in high school with my friends; we were exactly the same way—total outsiders, punks, the social rejects. We thought life was a total joke and looked down on all those miserable, clueless old people because they just didn't "get" it. We spent our time reading these super deep books and blasting intense music, thinking we were geniuses when, in reality, we were just lost kids struggling to navigate the line between childhood and adulthood. We were so vulnerable, so scared, and so hopelessly in love. If I could go back with the perspective I have now, I know I would’ve had way more fun and worried way less about all the nonsense. It sounds to me like you’re just feeling isolated and maybe could really use a good heart-to-heart with your parents, assuming they actually listen to you.
Please don't let thoughts of depression or suicide weigh you down. You have an entire lifetime stretching out ahead of you, filled with family, kids, lifelong friendships, travels, and so many hobbies and passions you haven't even discovered yet. Just hang in there until you grow into yourself.
Forgive me if I sound like I’m lecturing you, but I really needed to talk to someone who had been through it all and actually knew how to listen and understand, so I figure it won't hurt you to hear this from me too. Just relax, man!

feralcobra92 said:Reading your posts, it’s pretty obvious you’re still just a kid—basically a high schooler. Honestly, I could be your mom, so let me give you some real talk. At your age, nobody actually knows who they are yet. One day you're just a little kid obsessed with video games and school, and the next, you're suddenly an "adult" who has no clue what they want out of life or even what their own identity is. Even though I'm older, I still vividly remember being in high school with my friends. We were exactly the same: outsiders, punks, total social rejects. We thought life was garbage and looked down on those "pathetic" old people because we thought they were clueless and miserable. We’d read these super deep books and listen to insane music, thinking we had the world figured out, when really we were just lost kids caught between childhood and adulthood. We were vulnerable, scared, and hopelessly in love. If I had this perspective back then, I think I would have enjoyed myself more instead of stressing over such stupid things. It sounds like you're feeling lonely and maybe could use a real heart-to-heart with your parents (assuming they actually get you).
Don't let depression or thoughts of self-harm consume you. You have your entire life ahead of you: family, kids, lifelong friends, traveling, and all the hobbies you haven't even discovered yet. Just hang in there until you grow up a bit.
Sorry if I sound like I'm lecturing you, but sometimes you just need to hear from someone who has been through the ringer and actually knows how to listen. I figured reading this might help. Just relax, man!

They're fine, it's just that my dad is sick, so I can't really talk to him about anything anymore. My mom has to focus on taking care of him, and the last thing I want to do is stress her out with my nonsense... so I try to keep my problems to myself.
Get a grip.

Stana said:So I'm just going to be someone's bitch?!
Well, whatever. At least I won't have to rely on one hand anymore.

😕 How exactly did you reach that conclusion? You’ll be using both hands, both feet, and probably your teeth just to keep up with everything waiting for you in my twisted little vision.
Just look around. A working mom with one kid... how much is on her plate already? Now imagine if she had twelve!
You're really playing games here. Are we all just idiots to you? Is that what you think—that everyone replying to you is just some clueless housewife?👎