This post contains some of the best racing thoughts quotes.
Racing Thoughts Quotes
1. “…you can learn to separate yourself from the rampant negativity in your brain. And in separating yourself from your poisonous negativity, you can calm your busy brain.” – Joseph A Annibali
2. “A series of studies done by Timothy Wilson at Harvard University and the University of Virginia showed that most people prefer doing something—even hurting themselves—to doing nothing or sitting alone with their thoughts. Remarkable, isn’t it? Study participants were asked to quietly be alone with their thoughts for six to fifteen minutes. Many participants found the time alone with their minds to be unpleasant. Two-thirds of the men and one-quarter of the women preferred self-administered electric shocks to sitting quietly with their thoughts.” – Joseph A Annibali
3. “After you write down your painful thoughts, feelings, stories or beliefs, examine them for their truth. More likely than not you will spot an error in the thought that is causing you pain and affecting how you see yourself and the world.” – Joseph A Annibali
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4. “Always writing down your thoughts and responses to the various steps will help significantly. As you repeat the steps, new insights may appear. And at the same time bonds to old ways of thinking may loosen.” – Joseph A Annibali
5. “Bedtime is often a particularly bad moment—the quiet and lack of distraction allow our ruminative thoughts to go wild. With such a busy brain we can’t fall asleep, or we awaken in the middle of the night with the cracked record of worries playing over and over again. We’re stuck.” – Joseph A Annibali
6. “Do you have the courage it takes to be one-on-one with your thoughts? It might take more courage than we often realize.” – Joseph A Annibali
7. “Freeing yourself from the trap of destructive thoughts and emotions through self-compassion can boost your self-esteem from the inside out, reduce depression and anxiety, and even help you stick to your diet.” – Christopher K. Germer
8. “I find that writing down my thoughts and stories on paper or on an electronic device helps me freeze my thoughts so that I can assess them. Thoughts are slippery devils. They’re here now, gone in a moment.” – Joseph A Annibali
9. “It’s often like that when we suffer. We can’t find ourselves in the crowd of thoughts and feelings that swirls around in our heads.” – Christopher K. Germer
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10. “Let me reemphasize that—you are not just your brain, you are not just your thoughts. Why do I make this claim? Well, the whole is greater than the sum of the parts. The brain is a key part of who we are, yes. But we find that the real us is beyond our thoughts.” – Joseph A Annibali
Negative Thoughts Worksheets
11. “Mindful individuals are more present. When we are present, we are relaxed. We don’t feel stressed. We don’t feel pressure. We don’t feel bombarded by stimuli. Extraneous thoughts are reduced. We are open, not defended or defensive. We are able to focus and give our attention to the situation or individual.” – Joseph A Annibali
12. “Most of our mental suffering arises when our minds jump around from one subject to another, which is exhausting, or when we’re preoccupied with unhappy thoughts and feelings.” – Christopher K. Germer
13. “Remember, “You are not just your brain, you are not your thoughts.” Thoughts arise automatically, just like the heart beats automatically and we breathe automatically. We don’t control our thoughts. And yet they can control us if we let them. If we remind ourselves that our brain makes our negative thoughts, that we are not our brain, we gain much-needed distance from our negative thoughts. They happen; that’s it. Don’t fight them. But we can think about our thinking. We can put things into perspective: Our thoughts are not facts.” – Joseph A Annibali
14. “Remind yourself what your values are. If you are ruminating over negative thoughts and decisions, refocusing on your core values will help reduce the negativity.” – Joseph A Annibali
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15. “She described her brain as feeling like a “buzzing beehive” of random thoughts.” – Joseph A Annibali
16. “What a change it can make to realize that thoughts and stories are fiction, a narrative that emerges from brain activity. “He doesn’t like me.” Is that really true? Can I really know for sure? If we wait, take the time really to look inside and be truthful with ourselves, the answer is almost always no.” – Joseph A Annibali
17. “When we practice mindfulness we pay purposeful attention. We focus on the present moment. And we attend to the unfolding of experience. We do so nonjudgmentally. We have attitudes of curiosity and acceptance. We don’t judge ourselves for our thoughts, feelings, urges, and behavior. We try to get away from the “shoulds” and “ought tos.” We observe. We try to notice our inner experiences without reacting to them. We seek to be aware, to manifest the opposite of being on automatic pilot. We attend to our behavior and try to tune in to our state of being.” – Joseph A Annibali
18. “Why do some people seem to possess a natural optimism, while others spin downward in a negative spiral? What causes the brain to busy itself with negative thoughts rather than positive ones?” – Joseph A Annibali
19. “With all that is on our plate, we feel revved up and in overdrive, perhaps on the brink of a panic attack. Thoughts go around and around, but instead of resting somewhere, they continue cycling: How will I catch up on the job? Take care of my children? Fix my car? Pay my bills?” – Joseph A Annibali
20. “You may be tempted to talk out your thoughts instead of writing them down. But grabbing hold of and nailing down your thoughts in writing is key to the process.” – Joseph A Annibali
21. “You’ve probably noticed how busy the mind is. It’s very difficult to find the breath amid the clamor of competing thoughts and feelings. No sooner do we focus fully on one out-breath than the mind is off and running on a new train of thought.” – Christopher K. Germer
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How To Cope With Racing Thoughts?
Coping with racing thoughts can be challenging, but there are strategies you can try to help manage them. Here are some suggestions:
1. Mindfulness
Engaging in mindfulness practices can help you become aware of your racing thoughts without getting caught up in them.
Here’s a mindfulness exercise you can try:
1. Find a quiet and comfortable place to sit or lie down.
2. Take a few deep breaths, inhaling through your nose and exhaling through your mouth. Feel the air filling your lungs and the calmness it brings.
3. Close your eyes and focus on your breath. Pay attention to the sensation of the air moving in and out of your body.
4. Notice any thoughts that come to your mind, but don’t engage with them. Simply acknowledge them and let them go.
5. Bring your attention back to your breath. Count each inhale and exhale, up to a count of 10, and then start over again at 1.
6. If you find your mind wandering, gently bring your focus back to your breath and start counting again.
7. Continue this exercise for 5-10 minutes, or longer if you wish.
Remember, mindfulness is about being present in the moment, without judgment or distraction.
With regular practice, you can train your mind to stay focused and calm, and help reduce stress and anxiety.
2. Cognitive Restructuring
Challenge and reframe your racing thoughts by identifying any distorted thinking patterns and replacing them with more realistic and positive perspectives.
The following are some prompts you may find helpful:
- What is the main racing thought that’s been on your mind lately? Write down what it is and how it makes you feel.
- Think about the evidence that supports and contradicts your racing thought. Write down a list of all the evidence you can think of for and against it.
- What is the worst-case scenario of your racing thought? Write down what outcomes you fear the most. Then ask yourself if they are realistic or not.
- What would you say to a friend who is experiencing racing thoughts similar to yours? Write down some supportive and encouraging words that you would say to them.
- Write a letter to yourself from the perspective of a positive, supportive friend. Imagine that this friend is providing comfort and encouragement to you during times of mental distress.
3. Grounding Techniques
Use grounding techniques to bring yourself back to the present moment.
For example, focus on your senses by noticing five things you can see, four things you can touch, three things you can hear, two things you can smell, and one thing you can taste.
4. Relaxation Techniques
Practice relaxation techniques like deep breathing exercises, progressive muscle relaxation, or guided imagery to calm your mind and body.
Here’s a simple deep breathing exercise you can try:
1. Find a quiet and comfortable place to sit or lie down.
2. Close your eyes and take a moment to focus on your breath.
3. Place one hand on your chest and the other on your abdomen.
4. Take a slow, deep breath in through your nose, feeling your abdomen rise as you fill your lungs with air. Count to four as you inhale.
5. Hold your breath for a brief pause, counting to four.
6. Exhale slowly through your mouth, counting to four. Feel your abdomen lower as you release the breath.
7. Continue this pattern of breathing, inhaling and exhaling deeply, for several minutes.
As you engage in this deep breathing exercise, try to focus solely on your breath.
If your racing thoughts intrude, acknowledge them without judgment and then gently refocus your attention back to your breath.
Deep breathing activates the body’s relaxation response, lowering stress levels and promoting a sense of calm.
Practicing this exercise regularly can help you manage racing thoughts and reduce anxiety.
5. Engage in Physical Activity
Physical exercise releases endorphins, which can help reduce anxiety and racing thoughts.
Incorporate regular exercise into your routine to promote a sense of calmness.
Conclusion
Finding the most effective strategies for coping with racing thoughts may involve some trial and error.
Be patient with yourself and keep exploring different techniques until you find what works best for you.
References
- Portions of this article were adapted from the book Reclaim Your Brain, © 2015 by Joseph A Annibali. All rights reserved.
