With treatment being long, costly and stressful, It is easy to sink into despair and engage in the what if game. If you struggle with obsessive thinking and find it hard to shift out of scary thoughts try this tip. First it’s pointless for others or yourself to just stop worrying. This is scary and stressful stuff- who wouldn’t worry- the trick is worrying better.
First, give yourself 5-10 minutes a day to schedule “worry time”- just not right before bed. Create a worry pad/journal, set a timer and worry away- get it out of your head and onto paper. When the timer goes off give yourself PERMISSION to put it away. Having a daily time to obsess, worry, fret, catastrophize can help you more effectively manage your thoughts and time. Sometimes worrying can make you feel a sense of not being caught off guard or surprised and if you know you have that daily time you ironically may not even use it. This method will not cure your worries. Worry and stress are a part of life and with everything you have been through it’s inevitable and very normal. For people that find their thoughts to be relentless and exhausting try this tip and it may give your brain a much deserved break!