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Ask HN: How Do You Stop Your Mind From Racing

9 points by QuantumGuy 14y ago

Hi hackernews ever since I was a kid my mind has always been racing.Wherever I go I am thinking about things,physics mainly. It has gotten to the point where I am unable to enjoy anything. I can't relax,I can't sleep, I can't even enjoy a simple conversation. Any suggestions on how to stop my mind from racing. I have been taking Ritalin LA since I was 5 but it has been less than helpful in that area. My doctor had me try strattera and adderal before but it didn't work. No workout only school and programming. I am attempting to meditate on a daily basis, which I have been failing at miserably.

orangethirty 14y ago
How old are you?
rfugger 14y ago
Some kind of meditation practice might be helpful.
ahoyhere 14y ago
Learn to quiet your mind not by denying but by embracing what's going on. You can become an observer in your own head instead of being caught up by discoursive thoughts… see them as weather. My #1 go-to recommendation is the AUDIO book (not the written version) of When Things Fall Apart by Pema Chodron. Don't worry if you're not going through what sounds like a crisis… the audiobook is accessible for even minor issues, like "being a human." http://www.amazon.com/When-Things-Fall-Apart-Difficult/dp/1590305450 http://www.amazon.com/When-Things-Fall-Apart-Difficult/dp/15...
ahoyhere 14y ago
Learn to quiet your mind not by denying but by embracing what's going on. You can become an observer in your own head. My #1 go-to recommendation is the AUDIO book (not the written version) of When Things Fall Apart by Pema Chodron. Don't worry if you're not going through what sounds like a crisis… the audiobook is accessible for even minor issues, like "being a human." http://www.amazon.com/When-Things-Fall-Apart-Difficult/dp/1590305450 http://www.amazon.com/When-Things-Fall-Apart-Difficult/dp/15...
Meai 14y ago
Go get a job, a warehouse job will force you to focus on things other than physics but any job is good. Also go to the gym, it won't help with your mind racing per se, but it will make everything else better. I don't want to sound snarky, but I think I ought to mention that this actually works.
mtviewdave 14y ago
Given that you're taking Ritalin, the first step would be to bring these symptoms to your doctor's attention. You may need your dosage adjusted, or a need to try a new drug, or try some other treatment (or even stop taking meds entirely, though don't do this without talking to your doctor first). The important thing is to work with your doctor until you've got a solution that works for you; this may take several visits.
- QuantumGuy 14y ago
  Thanks I will try that and exercise.
mimiflynn 14y ago
Work out much? Ride a bike, run, rock climb, lift weights... its a great way to get yourself to meditate while exhausting yourself to sleep better. If I find myself anxious and thinking too much, this is my first answer. If working out doesn't work, I end up taking a couple of days for myself to build or study whatever it is that had been on my mind.
MostAwesomeDude 14y ago
What everybody else said. Personally, I have a series of large Rubiks-style cubes, up to 7x7x7. Scrambling and solving these has become a kind of mental exercise for me that gets me off of the train of thought that I'm on, and it's useful for disrupting constant repetition. Another thing is rubber ducking ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rubber_duck_debugging http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rubber_duck_debugging ) which works really well for taking large rambling thoughts and condensing them into small, simple, focused ideas. Don't ramble at the duck. Try to explain to the duck in a way that you feel resembles real communication, instead of ranting. And yes, exercise.
timmm 14y ago
It's less about your mind racing and more about learning how to stop thinking. Being present to the moment. Start guided/mindful meditation. Read eastern texts Tao, ect. Thinking is important but learning when to get outside your head and be present is much more important. Read Eckhart Tolle
piyush_soni 14y ago
Meditation. Try the Art of Living course, it's amazing.
argonz 14y ago
Ditch doctors (at least the majority), and medication. Read about glutene intolerance and possible connections. Take omega-3 supplements and stop glutene+dairy. Possible that it's just bullshit and won't work, otherwise effects after 30days. Worst case you just become slim and fit.
logn 14y ago
My non-medical opinion would be to stop taking amphetamines and any caffeine and get more sleep.
joelmaat 14y ago
Rather than meditate (at this stage) listen to brainwave entrainment tracks (Neuro-Programmer 3). That will eventually calm your mind if you just keep playing it. Also try 1g Niacin, 1g Vitamin C, and 500mg Pantothenic Acid before bed. Taper off the pharmaceutical drugs if you can. (I'm curious if this will work for you, so if you try it out, then it would be nice if you post a reply telling me what your results were.)
CookWithMe 14y ago
Exercise has been suggested numerous times, and I agree. I'd also add to choose a sport where you have to focus your mind (i.e. not go to the gym or jogging). I have been doing downhill/freeride mountainbiking and enjoy bouldering right now. Both sports don't allow your mind to wander off - you need to be 100% focused on your body. In case of mountainbiking, a lot of adrenaline was involved because of the risk. I felt that when the mind realizes there are serious consequences from not focusing completely on the task at hand (e.g. when you are racing through trees), it will focus automatically. This hasn't happened to me when going jogging or so - my mind would still be able to wander off. YMMV, as always. Good luck!

9 points by QuantumGuy 14y ago

orangethirty 14y ago

How old are you?

rfugger 14y ago

Some kind of meditation practice might be helpful.

ahoyhere 14y ago

Learn to quiet your mind not by denying but by embracing what's going on. You can become an observer in your own head instead of being caught up by discoursive thoughts… see them as weather. My #1 go-to recommendation is the AUDIO book (not the written version) of When Things Fall Apart by Pema Chodron. Don't worry if you're not going through what sounds like a crisis… the audiobook is accessible for even minor issues, like "being a human." http://www.amazon.com/When-Things-Fall-Apart-Difficult/dp/1590305450 http://www.amazon.com/When-Things-Fall-Apart-Difficult/dp/15...

ahoyhere 14y ago

Learn to quiet your mind not by denying but by embracing what's going on. You can become an observer in your own head. My #1 go-to recommendation is the AUDIO book (not the written version) of When Things Fall Apart by Pema Chodron. Don't worry if you're not going through what sounds like a crisis… the audiobook is accessible for even minor issues, like "being a human." http://www.amazon.com/When-Things-Fall-Apart-Difficult/dp/1590305450 http://www.amazon.com/When-Things-Fall-Apart-Difficult/dp/15...

Meai 14y ago

Go get a job, a warehouse job will force you to focus on things other than physics but any job is good. Also go to the gym, it won't help with your mind racing per se, but it will make everything else better. I don't want to sound snarky, but I think I ought to mention that this actually works.

mtviewdave 14y ago

Given that you're taking Ritalin, the first step would be to bring these symptoms to your doctor's attention. You may need your dosage adjusted, or a need to try a new drug, or try some other treatment (or even stop taking meds entirely, though don't do this without talking to your doctor first). The important thing is to work with your doctor until you've got a solution that works for you; this may take several visits.

QuantumGuy 14y ago
Thanks I will try that and exercise.

mimiflynn 14y ago

Work out much? Ride a bike, run, rock climb, lift weights... its a great way to get yourself to meditate while exhausting yourself to sleep better. If I find myself anxious and thinking too much, this is my first answer. If working out doesn't work, I end up taking a couple of days for myself to build or study whatever it is that had been on my mind.

MostAwesomeDude 14y ago

What everybody else said. Personally, I have a series of large Rubiks-style cubes, up to 7x7x7. Scrambling and solving these has become a kind of mental exercise for me that gets me off of the train of thought that I'm on, and it's useful for disrupting constant repetition. Another thing is rubber ducking ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rubber_duck_debugging http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rubber_duck_debugging ) which works really well for taking large rambling thoughts and condensing them into small, simple, focused ideas. Don't ramble at the duck. Try to explain to the duck in a way that you feel resembles real communication, instead of ranting. And yes, exercise.

timmm 14y ago

It's less about your mind racing and more about learning how to stop thinking. Being present to the moment. Start guided/mindful meditation. Read eastern texts Tao, ect. Thinking is important but learning when to get outside your head and be present is much more important. Read Eckhart Tolle

piyush_soni 14y ago

Meditation. Try the Art of Living course, it's amazing.

argonz 14y ago

Ditch doctors (at least the majority), and medication. Read about glutene intolerance and possible connections. Take omega-3 supplements and stop glutene+dairy. Possible that it's just bullshit and won't work, otherwise effects after 30days. Worst case you just become slim and fit.

logn 14y ago

My non-medical opinion would be to stop taking amphetamines and any caffeine and get more sleep.

joelmaat 14y ago

Rather than meditate (at this stage) listen to brainwave entrainment tracks (Neuro-Programmer 3). That will eventually calm your mind if you just keep playing it. Also try 1g Niacin, 1g Vitamin C, and 500mg Pantothenic Acid before bed. Taper off the pharmaceutical drugs if you can. (I'm curious if this will work for you, so if you try it out, then it would be nice if you post a reply telling me what your results were.)

CookWithMe 14y ago

Exercise has been suggested numerous times, and I agree. I'd also add to choose a sport where you have to focus your mind (i.e. not go to the gym or jogging). I have been doing downhill/freeride mountainbiking and enjoy bouldering right now. Both sports don't allow your mind to wander off - you need to be 100% focused on your body. In case of mountainbiking, a lot of adrenaline was involved because of the risk. I felt that when the mind realizes there are serious consequences from not focusing completely on the task at hand (e.g. when you are racing through trees), it will focus automatically. This hasn't happened to me when going jogging or so - my mind would still be able to wander off. YMMV, as always. Good luck!