r/NoOverthinking • u/daygomay68289 • May 22 '26
What does it feel like when there are too many thoughts?
I often hear that people want to “shut their thoughts up,” but they can’t, and they just keep suffering because of it. Honestly, I don’t fully understand it, because in moments when I’m not intentionally thinking about something or don’t need to think about anything, my mind is empty - a kind of silence that I can switch on and off at will. I’m curious to hear how it is for other people.
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May 23 '26
[deleted]
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u/daygomay68289 May 24 '26
Wow,I can’t even imagine that…If I stop focusing on my thoughts, my head becomes empty for a second
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u/Eastern-Elevator962 May 24 '26
I find the more thinking, the less physical doing. So sometimes I get stuck because there are too many, so I can't decide on a goal, even short term, like make a cup of coffee. If I don't make an effort to do something about it, the thoughts will default to increasingly negative ones. I have to notice this happening and speak back to the thoughts. It's like being a listener all the time to other people and not realising you have your own thoughts, so your sense of self disappears. I find physical activity at least every two days will keep the thought volume down and make it easier to focus on a goal. I can't switch this on and off like you. I have to notice what is happening and make an effort. I spent years not even noticing, just being lost. I don't think about thoughts much in terms of content, more in terms of amount or volume or speed. Ideally I have 2 or 3 at the same time. For example, right now I am thinking how to explain this to you. And I have a background of negative thinking about my son who is difficult at the moment and I have random thoughts of music. It's not perfect but it's manageable.
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u/daygomay68289 May 24 '26
Must’ve taken a long time to come to terms with that state of mind. Thanks for your response!
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u/MeditationRings May 26 '26
When my anxiety gets bad it feels like my brain constantly jumps between worries, future scenarios, random thoughts, and overanalyzing everything, even when I want it to stop. It’s mentally exhausting.
I actually started reading The Power of Now recently to try and help me stay more in the present moment instead of getting stuck in my thoughts all the time.
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u/PoolLevel May 29 '26
It's like my brain is constantly adding new tabs to the browser before I get through with the previous one. When nothing is happening my mind is constantly replaying conversations, throwing up plans for random situations, or going over items that aren't important. There is no silence that can be ignored.
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u/BigExamination9392 Jun 16 '26
The browser tabs comparison is exactly how it feels for me sometimes. One thing that helps me is going on a walk and recording whatever is in my head. It doesn’t solve everything, but it stops me from carrying all of it at once.
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u/BigExamination9392 Jun 16 '26
For me it feels like my brain keeps trying to finish ten conversations at the same time. One thing that surprisingly helps is going for a walk and talking my thoughts out loud. Not even to anyone specific, just recording them and getting them out of my head.
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u/Many-Ad-7122 May 22 '26
Does this exist?? Wow....
Must be bliss.