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How do I stop racing thoughts?
How do I stop racing thoughts?
Started by Anonymous · · 👁 10 views · 143 replies
#102 ·
Mark Davis14 said:That feeling of just wanting everything to stop? It usually hits when you’re trapped in a loop where life feels less like living and more like just surviving. When every single day is a carbon copy of the one before, it’s incredibly hard to find any sense of purpose. And honestly, without that core reason to keep pushing forward, it’s almost impossible to move an inch. A lot of people try to fill that void through faith—searching for something higher or more meaningful to anchor themselves. But let's be real: modern religion has splintered into a thousand different directions. So many of these paths have drifted far from their original intentions, warping the very ideas they were built on. It’s tragic because this obsession with being "right" has fueled centuries of brutal warfare. The more someone clings to a single, absolute truth, the more blinded they become. They get radicalized, losing sight of humanity and turning viciously against anyone who doesn't see the world through their exact lens.
You actually have the power to shake things up and breathe some life back into your routine. You can spark those moments of pure adrenaline that make you feel truly alive—that rush you need running through your veins before the inevitable end catches up with us all. Of course, there’s a way to stay clear of the various cults out there. They prey on people exactly like you and me—people who realize that every passing second is just another step toward the slow decline of our bodies and minds. That’s exactly how they hook people; they convince them that if they just perform some specific, nonsensical ritual—like lifting their left foot while tapping their right one at the exact same time—they can somehow cheat the system. aurelius corestotis Honestly, there’s nothing quite like being obsessed with something that was clearly designed for everyone else.
You really have to make the most of the time you’ve been given—this window of youth. Even if you can't find a grand purpose, you can at least use it to defy and mock that lingering urge to just give up on life. How? Look, if you actually believe you have enough guts to end it all, then take that same damn courage and use it to experiment with yourself and the life you're living instead.Pick up an extreme sport. Learn how to skydive. Put yourself in those high-stakes situations where you’re staring death right in the face.I promise you, that’s the exact moment you’ll finally start appreciating life. You're going to see everything through a completely different lens—one that makes everything you've experienced up until now look dull by comparison.
Most mental health struggles really stem from one thing: fear. It’s everywhere. Some people are terrified of failing out of college, others live in constant dread of getting laid off from their corporate jobs, and some are just paralyzed by the thought of getting sick, dying, or ending up alone. Then there are those who are scared to actually show how they feel, or the ones haunted by the idea that they’ll be stuck in a mediocre life until they're old and gray. But there is a way out. We just need to tap into that inner spark—that sense of wonder—that pushes us to actually engage with the world around us. We need to stop wandering aimlessly through our own heads and start exploring the vastness of everything outside ourselves. When we get trapped in our own little bubbles, obsessing over our personal traumas or deep-seated insecurities, we become self-absorbed. And that’s dangerous. That kind of ego-driven focus can lead us to consciously or subconsciously tear down other people's happiness just to soothe our own pain. At the end of the day, suffering is nothing more than the byproduct of being too focused on oneself. Once we start truly absorbing the movement and energy of the world around us, we’ll find ourselves so overwhelmed by the sheer scale of life that we won't even have the headspace to dwell on our own internal noise anymore.
I’m guessing you’re pretty insecure and unhappy with how you look. If you weren't, you wouldn't be spending all your time on this forum acting so stuck-up and full of yourself. Besides, someone who actually thinks they’re making the world a better place just by existing—someone convinced they're gorgeous and brilliant—would never even consider suicide. They’d give their own life way too much importance to ever let themselves go. But when you realize you're just as small and insignificant as an ant, someone that even your own neighbors don't bother noticing, let alone the stars or the vast universe, you start to feel like you don't really matter to anyone, including yourself.
I’m guessing you’re staring out at nothing but flat plains right now, just like I used to. There’s something about that endless, beautiful, yet crushing horizon that forces you into self-reflection. When everything for miles around looks exactly the same—just level and unchanging—you can't help but feel how small you really are. And what is there to even look forward to? More heavy winter fogs or those stifling, sweltering summers? It feels impossible to spot even a glimmer of change or a shred of hope when the landscape itself seems to have no intention of ever surprising you. Honestly, the only way out is to change your surroundings. You have to get moving. Just start walking, and keep walking until you finally hit some high ground.
Climb to the top of a mountain, find that source of clarity, and soak in views that will gift you with a sense of beauty you've never experienced before. When you look out over those vast landscapes stretching beneath you, you’ll feel like you finally have a handle on things. That perspective makes everything easier; it breathes life into the kind of change you need to heal and inject some much-needed optimism and drive back into your soul. All you really need is a shift in perspective, and that’s reachable no matter how dark things seem right now. If I were an old man, I wouldn't even bother saying this because it would sound fake.
First off, try to kill it in college or at work just so you can actually respect yourself a little more. Beyond that, success naturally paves the way for change. If you can't see a reason to succeed—if you don't dream about one day buying a high-end car just to flex a little, or if you haven't come up with a grand vision to give your life purpose—then aim for success just so you can travel and explore this massive planet we live on. Trust me, witnessing the incredible diversity of nature and seeing people scattered across the globe is something truly supernatural.
And then there's falling in love; that will completely flip your world upside down. There is so much more left for you to experience.Do you know what it's like to touch a woman's skin, run your hands through her hair, discover the warmth in eyes looking back at you, or hold someone who becomes your entire universe?Nothing on this earth is more meaningful than love. It fills the void and kills the emptiness. If you’re currently stuck in a phase of unrequited love, or if you feel like no girl will ever even glance your way, just realize how many living souls are out there waiting for your affection. Realize how many natural wonders and simple truths can touch you and love you just because you are alive and existing! You could do anything—you could go wild and act like Napoleon, you could spiral and wreck subway cars, you could be a straight-A student and win awards. You can do whatever you want, yet you're already planning on dying. There is always plenty of time for death, but every single day, there is less time left for life....
Change doesn't require dying; it’s fueled by our own destiny and the sheer willpower to make things better....
Good luck....
I don't know
I mean, it's all fine, maybe I'll do something... but if I could just force myself to take action that easily, this whole thread wouldn't even exist.
#103 ·
Stana... said:I haven't the slightest clue...
It’s all well and good—maybe I’ll actually get around to doing something... but if I could be coerced into taking action that easily, this thread wouldn't even exist in the first place...
I assume you have no idea what it’s actually like—to have a woman by your side who truly loves you, someone you just want to protect and cherish... though, honestly, I don't think anyone really does. But hey, you’re still young; there's time. Once you fall in love, death loses all its meaning. Your depression is largely fueled by self-pity—this desperate need to deny yourself anything because you've convinced yourself that no girl could ever love or crave you the way you ache to be loved... It’s a trap. People destroy themselves when they believe they’ll always be strangers to everyone, including themselves. That sense of alienation is what forces you to give up—it’s this endless, flat plain of nothingness that just keeps dragging your mood down...
I’m twenty-one years old and I still haven't experienced what I consider to be life's greatest sweetness—I've never even kissed a girl, let alone been loved by one... and maybe that's just my reality. It's because I am the literal blueprint for an unattractive man. That realization led me down some dark paths—periods of self-destruction where I wouldn't eat for a week, just tearing myself apart physically and mentally. But here I am, still breathing, still typing, and trying to find some way to enjoy being young—even if I can't feel that genuine happiness most people my age take for granted. They don't even realize how rare it is to find someone willing to love you despite every flaw and imperfection... mostly because they're too busy cycling through new partners every single day.
What am I even trying to get at here? At first glance, there really isn't much point in sticking around. I’ve been sitting with the thought—if I’m destined to be unlovable because of how I look, why bother existing at all? What’s the point of being alive when I'll spend my entire life alone, never having that need to be loved actually met? By constantly projecting this self-loathing, I only ended up forcing my own insecurities onto everyone else—which, let's face it, is pretty repulsive. And now... here I am, a victim of my own making—partially broken mentally, and completely shattered physically...
You want to know who saved me from an early grave—at least for a little while? A wizard from the Midwest... someone who forced me to finally see the world through a different lens. I used to suffer so much—just because no girl would give me the time of day, because I felt repulsive and unwanted—I suffered because I was obsessed with being someone people actually admired. I wanted to be this imposing, standout figure of masculinity; I wanted to be smarter, better, and more perfect than I actually am... Then it hit me: all that misery and resentment stemmed from pure selfishness. I realized I’m someone who doesn't know the first thing about appreciating or respecting this mysterious world—someone who walks past the beauty of life like it’s something cheap and worthless. It turns out I was just blind—incapable of feeling or seeing anything—a total egocentric chasing nothing but my own spotlight. Every single one of my problems felt massive and unbeatable back then, mostly because I was too narrow-minded to see the sheer complexity of existence... the beauty and the strangeness found in people like you and everyone else living this life.
If someone asked me today why I live such a "loser" life—and let's be honest, that's how they'd see it—I’d tell them it’s because I want to soak up everything this life has to offer while I still can. The quiet beauty of sleeping cities, blooming landscapes, the grace of living things... those fleeting moments of sadness or laughter caught by chance. I don't feel the need to be beautiful myself anymore, nor do I care about being "desirable"—because beauty is everywhere. It’s served up in a thousand different ways, whether it's hiding in some tiny, delicate detail or standing bold in the presence of a woman... If you can't find joy in a stranger's smile, or if you aren't moved by the sorrow in a passerby's eyes, then you're missing the point entirely. You might think you're alone, but you're actually an inseparable part of this entire society—of this whole planet. Without it, you're nothing. Your identity, your speech, your very thoughts—it's all shaped by the collective influence of everyone around you. The world is just too diverse, too full of tiny, wonderful details to ignore. Even if you don't feel like a perfect person, you can still find happiness in the fact that you're a small piece of that perfection... simply because you're here, and you still exist...
Just let that beauty sink in—don't shut out all the possibilities waiting for you. Even if you feel completely isolated, misunderstood, or unloved... even if you think there's no one left to hold you or truly listen... try experiencing Nature's gifts through a different lens. I’ve nearly lost my mind from loneliness myself, yet somehow I wasn't truly alone. I found myself shouting at the winter winds for the way they lash against my face, or listening to the snow crunch faithfully under my boots. I’ve yelled at the sun for those vast, open landscapes that suddenly feel reachable, and stared at the stars until my imagination ran wild... I fell in love with the wind just because of the wisdom carried in those distant gusts dancing through my hair...
Nature offers a thousand reasons TO LIVE—reasons you might be too stubborn to accept. No matter how much weight I carry or how much I suffer, I can see the world differently, just as you can... you just have to WANT to.
You claim this thread wouldn't exist if you had actually taken action. Well, I'd argue the very fact that this exists proves you've already started. Think of your posts here as the first step—it's always easier to keep moving than it is to stop once you've begun. So don't falter; just keep moving. Hopefully, my advice—and the input from everyone else here—is enough of a nudge to keep you from stalling out again. I realize words aren't a magic fix; sometimes they sound hollow, almost fake. You might think, "this is all just fairy tales," wondering how anyone could possibly understand what you're going through. But I can't do more for you through a screen. If I were standing right there, I’d give you a physical shove toward a gym or a new hobby—anything to get you away from the dark thoughts flooding your head—but even then, you’d probably tell me you "don't have the strength," and I can't drag you along forever. That's why you need to accept our efforts here... and maybe reassure us that words aren't always too broken to actually help someone. After all, this is our only real power—using words to push you toward finding a better way to live and actually enjoy this massive world of endless mysteries...
#105 ·
"A prototype for an ugly man"? Oh, please! Don't you realize that girls don't actually fall for guys just because they're pretty, but because they're interesting and have a great sense of humor? Personally, I've always gone for guys who were charming and knew exactly how to make me laugh. I never gave a damn about looks as long as we could have a blast together and he made me feel truly special. Honestly, he could have been a total wreck with a massive hunchback and a black eye patch for all I care! It’s the absolute truth, but if you guys just stay cooped up inside your houses and act too embarrassed to even strike up a conversation with a girl, then you're never going to meet anyone anyway. Get out there and take action, boys!
#106 ·
...here I go again... Honestly, I don't have any issues when it comes to women. I’m the type who loves joking around and keeping things lighthearted whenever I'm out on the town, you know? But man, the boredom and the loneliness are killing me. I spend way too much time stuck in my own head because there's just nothing to do. And look, if I wanted to find a girlfriend right now, I could—it wouldn't be hard. But I made a decision for myself: until I've got my finances in order, I'm staying celibate. It's just how it is for now.
#107 ·
Stana said:....yeah, I'm feeling it too....it's not even like I have an issue with women specifically....I love joking around, being a bit of a smartass, all that stuff, and I'm totally down for it when I'm actually out on the town, you know? But man, this boredom and loneliness just kills me....too much time spent overthinking things because there's just way too much empty time on my hands.....and another thing...if I really wanted to find a girlfriend, I could, but I told myself I'm not doing anything until I've got some real money coming in..just total abstinence for now...
well then go find yourself a rich girl...
#110 ·
feralcobra92 said:"Prototype of an ugly man"? Please... Don't you realize that women don't fall for looks—they fall for guys who actually have a personality and a sense of humor? I’ve always gone for the charming types—the ones who knew how to make me laugh... Looks didn't matter to me, as long as we had fun and he made me feel special. Honestly, he could have been a total wreck—a guy with a limp and an eye patch for all I cared. It's the truth, really—but if you guys just sit around at home being too shy to even strike up a conversation with a girl, you aren't going to meet anyone. Get out there and take action, men!
I’m not exactly the type to force my way into someone's space. There's just no way I could walk up to a girl and strike up a conversation—mostly because I don't feel like I have the physical or mental presence to actually command attention... though, naturally, that mindset is pretty much hardwired by everything I've dealt with in the past.
You’re wrong—women absolutely fall for good-looking guys. Sure, there are women attracted to unattractive men—not because they have some "alternative" sense of beauty, mind you—but that's technically classified as a disorder in psychiatric terms. What woman in love can honestly say her partner is ugly? To claim she loves him *because* he’s repulsive... well, unless there are other "earthly" motivations at play, it just doesn't track. Criteria vary wildly—some prioritize physical looks, others value a guy who stands out through character, maybe he's the dangerous type, the social butterfly, or just incredibly witty. But even that charm and charisma... it's all so intoxicating to a woman that it might actually mask a man's physical flaws. To suggest women don't fall for handsome men is simply false. Evolutionary theory dictates a drive toward the better, the more beautiful, the more perfect. Women choose—and they know how to choose—based on their own psychological makeup and what their genetic material allows. An interesting guy isn't just "average"—he's someone who excels at something, whatever that may be. An interesting guy isn't some immature, weakling type who lacks direction or hasn't achieved a single thing in his life. For example—and I'm not generalizing here—women driven by a primal need for protection will gravitate toward aggressive types, local tough guys, or those small-time criminals cruising around in loud, modified cars. Intellectual women look for the straight-A students or the high achievers in their careers. Then you have the ones who crave status; they want to link up with celebrities, the jet set, pro athletes, or those perfectly sculpted models. But believe me, no woman wants to be with a guy who is subpar in every single category. It makes no sense—almost every woman, much like almost every man, wants to be with the "best catch in the neighborhood" or the "coolest guy in the world." I'm not just sitting behind a desk theorizing this either—I'm out every night, observing and listening... I wasn't born yesterday. These observations mostly boil down to the same thing: guys tend to comment on breasts or butts—physicality—while women focus heavily on a man's status. I’ve moved past all that—I don't view a woman as an object, nor as a "prize" or a "trophy"... because I'm capable of finding something beautiful in every woman, whether it's a subtle detail only a few notice or a striking perfection obvious to everyone. The only thing I find truly unattractive is obesity—though, for my own reasons, I clearly can't claim to be objective there...
I tend to be pretty hard on myself—though I’d like to think I’m being objective here—and honestly, the only thing that could save me is pure physical beauty. But since I don't have that, nor do I possess any of the "required" traits—you know, success, wit, charm, etc.—I simply don't meet the criteria... and therefore, I can't be loved. Period.
#111 ·
Stana... (No input provided to rewrite.)
Well, here I am again... As far as women go, I don't have much of an issue—I can be quite the joker and a bit of a flirt when I’m actually out on the town—but the boredom and the solitude are killing me. Too much time to sit around and overthink things because there's just nothing to do... And look, if I wanted to find a girlfriend, I could—but I've decided to stay celibate until my bank account looks a little more respectable...
I’m sorry if you took my words to mean that I—or anyone else here—thinks you're unattractive or repulsive to women. You never actually said that, and there was absolutely no way for me to conclude that from what you wrote... I was simply laying out my own reasons for wanting to end it all and describing how I managed to temporarily shake off that death wish. If I misread your self-confidence as some sort of obsession with perfect lips to kiss, then that's on me...
Look, loneliness is really just the engine driving that desire to check out... It’s actually one of the darker sides of being alone—facing boredom means you're essentially staring straight into the void of existence. Being lonely means failing to connect with all those endless possibilities life throws your way—those chances to actually *do* something that engages your mind, soul, and body. Boredom just drags a wake of negativity behind it, tearing everything open and inviting all those repressed, dark corners of our consciousness to resurface...
If you’re really as charming and popular as you claim—the life of the party and all that—why aren't you surrounding yourself with people to kill the boredom... and the loneliness? I honestly don't think anything cures solitude quite like a genuine friendship. If social circles are wearing thin, yet the isolation still bites, then there’s likely a subconscious craving there—a desire to actually connect with someone on a deeper level, rather than just skimming the surface with friends who can't meet your actual needs. You want to be seen, understood, and truly reached by someone who holds the key to your core... But you won't get there if you're treating it like a math equation. Love doesn't send out formal invitations or RSVP ahead of time. You'll find her exactly when you stop hunting for her. This whole plan of yours—"I'll find someone once I've made enough money"—is just absurd. Love is the bedrock of humanity; it’s what drives us toward the good. Evil, on the other hand, is found in everything that wars against love—that raw, selfish lust that rejects healthy connection in favor of pure ego. Of course, the line between good and evil is messy and full of gray areas... our own perceptions aren't always accurate, but you get my point...
You really need to learn how to channel that energy properly—it’s all about direction. You're stuck at home, spinning your wheels, feeling more lethargic by the day while dealing with your father's struggles and the general weight of family issues... It makes sense why you'd feel like everything is pointless if you think you're just destined to become him. But you aren't. Use this time—while you actually have the health and vitality he once had—to make something of yourself. I can't say I truly understand what you're going through, since I didn't grow up with my father, but I did hold my grandfather in my arms as he passed away three months ago. He suffered terribly, and a million times over, I found myself wondering, "What's even the point of living if it all ends like this?" Maybe in the end, there isn't... but until then, there is still so much time left for new feelings, experiences, and realizations to flow through you. That’s why it’s worth it...
I’m telling you again—look around, listen, observe, actually absorb it all. If you’re still feeling bored and refuse to get moving, then fine... let fate decide what happens next...
#112 ·
Alma said:Plum: In the beginning was the Word...
Alma: And what was there before the beginning?
Plum: No clue. And I doubt anyone actually does...
Alma: Maybe there isn't even a beginning or an end. Everything just flows, nothing really starts or stops. Honestly, let's just ask some philosophers.
Look, if there's a beginning, and you're saying the Word was there at the start, then the Word was at the start. There's no such thing as "before" the beginning. Period.
#113 ·
Some girl from high school wrote a 9a4-page essay just about her walk to class. I bet Mark Davis14 would absolutely love that. Mark Davis14, you're freaking insane 👍
#114 ·
Hey, Mark Davis14, you could totally use some auto-suggestion to win her over. Why aren't you putting in the work with that?
#116 ·
Mark Davis14, you are seriously overthinking this whole situation! Honestly, girls aren't going to reject you because of one little thing or another. My grandmother always used to say—there is a perfect match for everyone out there. I really think you’d have a much better time if you didn't build up these massive, thick walls of excuses and obstacles around yourself. You keep telling yourself you're unattractive, or dim-witted, or lacking insight, or broke, or just not a "cool guy," and then you take it a step further by claiming you're actually the most repulsive person ever! It sounds like you're just being incredibly hard on yourself, and frankly, I think you're totally exaggerating. Nobody is perfect, and trust me, those women you've put on such high pedestals aren't perfect either. In fact, I bet some of them are sitting there feeling exactly the same way about themselves that you do about yourself! Are they actually right about that?
#117 ·
Besides, how on earth can you claim to know what women want better than I do? Look, I’m a woman, so I think I have a pretty good handle on the subject! Honestly, nothing in my life has been more tedious than dating some gorgeous guy who turns out to be incredibly boring. The whole thing is only interesting for the first fifteen seconds, and then after that ---🙂The one thing you actually got right is that they can be such bores and total buzzkills. I remember this one friend of mine who wouldn't stop droning on about this supposedly perfect woman he called his "princess." It was always "oh, she's my princess" this and "my princess" that, and he'd insist that if he couldn't land her, he didn't want anyone else. BTW, the poor girl didn't even know who he was. I used to give him a massive wide berth just to avoid getting stuck listening to another one of his "princess" lectures.
#118 ·
Everything just went south again today... honestly, I don't know how much longer I can deal with this. I'm so close to finally losing my mind. Most people around me—everyone from family to old friends and acquaintances—just doesn't get my sense of humor. They take everything way too seriously and get offended instantly. Like, come on, we’ve known each other for years and they still don't realize I'm just kidding around. So now what? Now I'm expected to apologize for something that was clearly just a joke, even though apparently it wasn't "funny" enough for THEM. God, life is exhausting...
Just hanging in there... I feel like I swallowed a shovel and a bucket of tennis balls.
Just hanging in there... I feel like I swallowed a shovel and a bucket of tennis balls.
#119 ·
Maybe try laying all of it out for them at once, or at least pick one person to talk to. They might not catch every single nuance of what you're saying, but give them at least a chance to process it... and don't let them get the better of you.
#120 ·
I’ve said this before, and I’m saying it again tonight, but nobody seems to give a damn. People just steamroll right over you without listening... they won't hear a word I say. Honestly, I’m losing the motivation to even try. Part of me just wants to tell everyone to screw off and lock myself in my room. As long as I have the internet, I'll be fine. But once that's gone? Well, you know how it goes. It's over. I just don't have the energy to keep explaining myself,
From here on out, I’m done acting like my usual self around them. That means no more joking around, no more messing about, and no more being the life of the party—stuff I used to do both for others and just for fun. If that doesn't fly with them, then we can just call it quits for good. I'm tapped out.
Words can't even describe what I'm feeling right now... I am at my absolute breaking point. If one more thing goes wrong, I am going to snap. I'm trying everything I can to keep this rage under control, but I don't know how much longer I can hold it in.
From here on out, I’m done acting like my usual self around them. That means no more joking around, no more messing about, and no more being the life of the party—stuff I used to do both for others and just for fun. If that doesn't fly with them, then we can just call it quits for good. I'm tapped out.
Words can't even describe what I'm feeling right now... I am at my absolute breaking point. If one more thing goes wrong, I am going to snap. I'm trying everything I can to keep this rage under control, but I don't know how much longer I can hold it in.
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