Touring of obsessed minds
Have you wondered if there is one day that can go by without thinking? Doesn’t that sound crazy and impossible? Well, it does. Because there is nothing we can do without thinking. With minds as the tool, it is the thinking process that enables us to imagine, create, plan, talk, figure things out, and not more.
To manage daily routine and activities, definitely, our minds keep working through the well-established thinking habit. Considering the web of priorities and cognitive loops we are stuck in, we are all likely to find ourselves stressed and unpleasant. So stressed that we cannot stop thinking about some situations or things that happened unexpectedly in the past or present. It is a quite common and normal tendency of us humans to think straight and work on the matter.
However, sometimes such situations pave the way to think excessively and gradually develop a pattern of obsessive thoughts. As days go by, individuals lose their ability to think straight because obsession about anything in and around them becomes the challenging partner in their minds. Individuals get used to experiencing the repeated occurrence of unwanted sensations and/or thoughts that turn out to be brooding and negative thoughts.
Journey of the symptoms of obsession
When wondering about the symptoms displayed by individuals with obsessed minds, research has undoubtedly reported many that act as intruders to the healthily functioning mind. Some of the symptoms can include developing unwanted and unhealthy thoughts, losing control, harming oneself and/or others, acting aggressive, engaging in horrifying thoughts, developing a chain of doubts, low tolerance levels and much more.
In some cases, these symptoms can travel a long path of developing obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). It also plays a major role in developing obsessive love disorder (OLD), body-focused obsessions, violent or relationship intrusive thoughts, and the list goes on.
Recent research revealed that the behaviour of obsession produces a wide range of negative consequences and traps the individuals in a self-perpetuating and destructive loop of frustrations and stress. This further distracts individuals from staying centred and adopt healthy thinking strategies.
Key factors causing obsessive thoughts
Even when the root causes contributing to obsessive thoughts causing mental health disruptions are unclear, the following few factors have been researched and identified:
Stress: An obsessed mind can be understood as a preoccupied mind with unwanted thoughts. Such mindsets gradually pave the way for experiencing stress, anxiety and confusion.
Brain wiring: Differences in the brain wiring and structures, specifically the frontal and subcortical structures, can be caused due to stress, traumatic events or anxiety. This further contributes to brain abnormalities that, surprisingly, are associated with the symptoms of obsession.
Behaviours of self-sabotage: Engaging in self-sabotage behaviours such as binge-eating, drug or alcohol intake, procrastination, etc., have been linked to the experiences of stress. This eventually perpetuates the cycle of destruction and negativity in mind.
Genetics: Several twin studies revealed that individuals can be at the risk of developing obsessive problems or OCD from childhood until adulthood. This is true only if they had any first-degree relations diagnosed with more or less similar mental difficulties.
Negative mind frame: It is no surprise that an obsessed mind will always produce unhappy and depressed moods. The unpleasant spirit experienced lower one’s self-confidence, optimism and sometimes destroy the ability to think wise.
Low proactive behaviour: Research has found that excessively obsessed mindsets are often associated with reduced proactive behaviours. This leads to acts of disengaging from disturbing thoughts and develop negative mind states.
Furthermore, research has found that a downward spiral is produced when one encounters obsessed minds in the long term. Additionally, an overflow of obsessive thoughts and behaviours can lead one to be subjected to unhealthy and unpleasant moods. This is sometimes associated with numerous physical and mental health risks.
Overcoming the obsessed minds
Define obsessive thinking: After understanding the negative impact of obsessive thoughts on your mental health and mood functioning, develop your own definition of these thoughts. Rather than letting the beast thoughts grow severe and persistent in you, act smart post developing your best understanding and definition of obsession.
Frame an open mind: When you tend to keep obsessive thoughts alive in you for short or long periods, you close the doors to thinking wide. Therapists suggest that keeping an open mind helps one reflect on their thoughts, accept their challenges to overcome them and act wisely.
Figure out the thought patterns: Tricky than it sounds is figuring out how the obsessive thought patterns can be changed. In achieving focus for the mind, one can identify what and how these thoughts are triggered and analyze ways to deal with them.
Set a time limit: If you wish to receive support from your close ones (friends or family) or yourself, carry out your activities by setting a time limit. This helps you time yourself in terms of how long you talk about the thoughts and the time you devote to brainstorming solutions.
Accepting the thoughts are off control: Rather than using avoidance or control as the key to the door of obsessive thoughts, accepting them is the right action. This helps in fixing the seeds of their mind in the present. It also gradually plant a realistic sense of things off- and in control.
Establish boundaries: Life teaches us all that we are left to bear the consequences if anything crosses the boundary. Setting boundaries for the occurring obsessive thoughts enables one to learn new things. It also modifies certain perspectives, change habitual thought patterns and figure solutions to prevent the repetition of these thoughts.
Explore mindful meditation activities: The growing tree of obsessive thoughts can be thorny to your emotional well-being. These intrusive thoughts are often accompanied by icky and negative emotions. Fortunately, engaging in the soothing art of meditation and mindfulness quells the unwelcome emotions and cut off the cycle of developing rumination.
Reach out to mental health professionals: Even when obsessive thoughts capture a normal place in an individual’s mindset, these thoughts can turn out to be the hallmark of varying mental health disorders. This includes depression, anxiety or OCD. Suppose the disturbing patterns of thoughts ever require additional boosts to manage them. In that case, it is advisable to visit mental health professionals.
Let us know what you think.