What To Do When You’re Buried In Obsessive Thoughts

It was a beautiful fall Sunday. 

I woke up and could hear the birds chirping outside of my window. 

My life, at least from the outside looking in, was on the up and up. I was healthy, had the most incredible group of friends and family a guy could ever ask for and was plenty busy with career and dating opportunities. Yet…I was miserable. 

I was deeply miserable.

And not just “I’m having a bad day” miserable. Like, I am pondering whether or not I even want to live any longer. 

That has been me many times over in my life. 

I have felt the full force of mental health instability. Whether it be severe anxiety, obsessive thoughts, or depression, I have experienced some of the darkest and most sinister days one can imagine. 

On these days, it can be challenging to gather enough energy to get out of bed. Time seems to slow down, while obsessive thoughts seem to speed up. 

Sometimes it gets so bad I think about the unthinkable – ending my life. 

That is darkness you don’t forget. And when you experience it, you understand how lonely and isolating it can be.

So when you’re experiencing this type of day, what techniques can you use to lift yourself out of the darkness (or at least manage it better)?

 

FOCUS ON YOUR BREATH

The most immediate and helpful tip for dealing with these dark days is to focus your attention on your breath. By doing this, you take the attention away from your obsessive thoughts, worries, and troubles and place them on your breath. Deep breathing also has many health benefits. Try out different breathing techniques to find one that works best for you. 

 

GET YOUR THOUGHTS OUT 

When you are caught up in anxiety, obsessive thoughts, and even depression, many times, just getting out your thoughts can help bring a slight sense of relief. I talk about the benefits of doing this in many of my other articles because it has helped me SO MANY times throughout the years. Being able to see your problems, issues, and worries on paper (or a computer or phone screen) gives you a level of power over them. You begin to feel like you are more significant than your worries and that you’ll be able to conquer them eventually. Getting your thoughts out also helps with finding solutions. When you see them in front of you, you’ll be surprised at how many solutions come flooding into your mind.

 

FALL BACK ON YOUR FOUNDATION

What do I mean by “Foundation?” I define your foundation as sleep, diet, exercise, and mental well-being. By maintaining a healthy foundation, you’ll give yourself a much better chance at warding off impending worries or anxiety. You cannot keep a healthy mindset and manage your stressors when your foundation is out of whack. 

Questions to ask yourself:

  1. Am I getting enough sleep?
  2. Is my diet healthy enough? 
  3. What healthy options can I substitute? 
  4. Am I exercising enough?
  5. Where is my mindset?
  6. What can I do to improve my well-being?

 

IN REVIEW

We all experience those dark days now and again. Some of us experience them more than others, but the key is to utilize tools and techniques to fall back on during these challenging times. I am by no means saying this will be easy or that your darkness will suddenly vanish. If you are diagnosed with a mental illness, your brain is wired so that you will often feel these obsessive thoughts, anxiety, and even depression more than most. But you can still use these techniques to help manage and cope. They will not take away your pain and sorrow, but they will give you small boosts to help you during those darkest times. 

Although we strive to provide accurate general information, the information presented here is not a substitute for any kind of professional advice, and you should not rely solely on this information. Always consult a professional in the medical and health area for your particular needs and circumstances prior to making any medical or health-related decisions. For your health-related questions, please seek the advice of a licensed physician or any other qualified health care provider immediately. 

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Brad Coreno

Brad has been a blogger since 2013 and a Certified Anxiety & Mindset Coach since 2021. Over his 15 year career Brad has developed many skills by working for several start up companies (including his own) as well as hosting a podcast interviewing former athletes and entertainers. During this time he also was gaining knowledge and learning the tools to manage and reduce anxiety, develop healthy and sustainable habits, and improve mindset. In 2019, Brad decided to use both his business acumen and mental health knowledge to help others by launching Upplifter.