does anyone find the thoughts seem to jump onto all different things!?

[mrsworry]

erghg! I have been doing fairly well with these annoying intrusive thoughts the last week or so but just wanted to find out if anyone else finds that the thoughts just latch onto anything? I find myself what iffing the whole day, like what if i just make a fool of myself and shout out something stupid in the doctors/shop/etc etc, I mean its like it will just come up with anything, I also find as long as I dismiss it there and then and distract myself it does not become an issue and i forget about it, its so annoying I just really want to not think about stupid stuff but its like because ive been like this for about 7 weeks now i guess my brain is constantly thinking of this type of thing I suppose its like the pink elephant scenario, i suppose the whole time i am not engaged in something that is distracting me my mind coming up with this junk. Anyone else the same?

[Naustin]

Oh yes mine jump from one thing to another too!! If it is partuculary scary then it will stay on that one longer but I agree you have to catch it fast or it will continue. Some are so stupid they are funny. Mine tend to be whatever I am watching on TV. If it is about drug addiction then I will think "what if I became a drug addict" Which is almost funny because I have a hard time taking cough medicine without getting anxious. I would be in the ER daily. LOL I try to make it almost funny when I talk back to myself about it. My thoughts do bounce around a lot though. You are not the only one by far. It will get better dont worry. Good Luck!!!

[Boon]

Yes, we have thoughts that come and go all day long. Everyone does. If we do not react emotionally, then they pass right on through. If we react with adrenalin, for example, they continue. It's the nature of the beast, however, you are doing the right thing. Don't fight the thoughts. Don't fight the feelings that the thoughts generate. Allow them to come and go AND at the same time distract with something in the present moment. You don't distract to resist or fight the thoughts because this brings on tension. Tension is emotion. Emotion keeps the thoughts there. No. You distract because it's the right thing to do. You want to get on with your day and so you do. It's almost like saying: Oh, hello there (to someone passing by) and you just continue on your way and that person continues on their way. Do you see? Distraction is really present moment. Pay attention to what you are doing in the moment. You can also say: "So what" (or) "Fine" (or) "Whatever". These words are quick and are acceptance. (You are accepting that you heard the thought. Not that the thought was true. Our thoughts are not true.) You do not have to acknowledge those scary, goofy thoughts anymore. Practice. Be patient. You will get it.

Humore is great! This is another way to diminish the thought.

Now you are learning to manage your thoughts. Managing them = dismissing them without emotion.