To ask if your brain ever gets quiet

thatsalad · 2025-05-27T21:44:32+00:00

As in, you literally are not thinking any thoughts? YABU - yes YANBU - no

AllProperTeaIsTheft · 29/05/2025 21:53

natura · 28/05/2025 10:51

My brain's usually pretty quiet.

I don't have the inner monologue that people talk about, and I don't 'think' in words when I'm working something out or planning anything.

It's more a series of concepts that emerge.

I've always been fascinated when people talk about their mind racing – my body definitely gets activated and I have emotions and physical responses to worry or panic, but my mind itself usually fairly peaceful.

I have a very, very verbal brain. All my thoughts are in words. I've even dreamed with kind of subtitkes occasionally! I'm a linguist, so maybe that's linked. When I quiet my mind, it's like stopping talking.

Elsvieta · 29/05/2025 20:54

No, I'm always thinking something - bit of a baffling concept to me that anyone could not be really. I'm happy about that - only get unhappy when different thoughts of the bad variety start going round and round and following each other too quickly and it becomes impossible to even think rationally about what to do or how to solve any problems.

user101101 · 29/05/2025 17:40

So if i turn off the thoughts in my brain purposefully i end up feeling asleep… 😂

so I’m not sure how i can do it and stay awake…

AgnesX · 29/05/2025 17:26

I wish my brain would stop overthinking at 3am. A little bit of no thought would be perfect about then. It's never anything earth shattering that couldn't wait!

LookingAtMyBhunas · 29/05/2025 17:12

Yes but I've practiced mindfulness for years and it's a conscious attempt.
It's bliss when I do though.

JohnTheRevelator · 29/05/2025 16:56

No. I wish it would sometimes. Even when I'm asleep I'm having vivid dreams. And when I'm awake I've always got some song going round on a permanent loop.

Americano75 · 29/05/2025 16:55

My brain is never quiet, I didn't think that was even possible! I've got a snippet of Someone You Love on a fucking loop going on right now, trying to do a work task and on my phone too.

Projectme · 29/05/2025 16:52

Hedwigowl · 28/05/2025 10:27

I think my DH's brain is like an empty room with a marble that rolls about a bit every 20 mins.

Mine is like a fairground on acid, but the rides are washing baskets and the things I said at a work do 20 years ago which I now overanalyse FOR NO REASON.

Omg. I can so relate to this comment! 🤣 proper made me laugh.

The only time I get peace from my pyscho brain activity is the few seconds before dropping off to sleep...

Hollowvoice · 29/05/2025 16:25

I read a meme recently which I'm about to misquote (but really resonates!):

I don't have a train of thought. I have multiple carriages on different tracks, the conductor is panicking and all the passengers are scrambling to get off

rosemarble · 29/05/2025 11:20

Hollowvoice · 29/05/2025 09:28

Oh it doesn't stop me focusing, I can concentrate on the task at hand and still have a song playing in my head and be thinking about what I'm going to cook later or whatever.

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Gosh, I didn't think it was actually possible to think/concentrate on more than one thing at a time. I know we can switch rapidly between different trains of thought, either intentionally, or not (distraction).

Hollowvoice · 29/05/2025 09:28

rosemarble · 28/05/2025 15:09

Yikes, do you have a job where you need to focus on a single task?

I know my mind flits about when I'm not focussing, but at work I am single minded - I wouldn't be able to do it otherwise.

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Oh it doesn't stop me focusing, I can concentrate on the task at hand and still have a song playing in my head and be thinking about what I'm going to cook later or whatever.

Original poster

thatsalad · 28/05/2025 18:17

MaryTheTurtle · 28/05/2025 16:30

Usually when I’m on the bus travelling to and from work I just kind of sit there. No music on, no thinking

That's a good point, I did the same because I was still half asleep before having my coffee at work

OP posts:

EBearhug · 28/05/2025 18:01

MaryTheTurtle · 28/05/2025 16:30

Usually when I’m on the bus travelling to and from work I just kind of sit there. No music on, no thinking

Don't you even look out of the window or think about whether your stop is next?

MaryTheTurtle · 28/05/2025 16:30

Usually when I’m on the bus travelling to and from work I just kind of sit there. No music on, no thinking

RaspberryCloud · 28/05/2025 15:35

DustyMaiden · 27/05/2025 22:56

No I didn’t think that was possible unless I was dead.

This!!! The concept doesn’t make sense to me at all ….surely there is always something happening in there?!

rosemarble · 28/05/2025 15:09

Hollowvoice · 28/05/2025 14:53

My brain is never quiet. I usually have two or three trains of thought going on and there's always a song playing too

Yikes, do you have a job where you need to focus on a single task?

I know my mind flits about when I'm not focussing, but at work I am single minded - I wouldn't be able to do it otherwise.

Hollowvoice · 28/05/2025 14:53

My brain is never quiet. I usually have two or three trains of thought going on and there's always a song playing too

comeandhaveteawithme · 28/05/2025 14:49

No, I am always thinking something. I have tried meditation and I can't do it. Apparently I have to empty my mind of any thought and I cannot do that.

I don't even switch off when I am asleep. I wakeup constantly and I dream very strongly all night.

Wildbird12 · 28/05/2025 14:38

natura · 28/05/2025 10:51

My brain's usually pretty quiet.

I don't have the inner monologue that people talk about, and I don't 'think' in words when I'm working something out or planning anything.

It's more a series of concepts that emerge.

I've always been fascinated when people talk about their mind racing – my body definitely gets activated and I have emotions and physical responses to worry or panic, but my mind itself usually fairly peaceful.

I'm like this too. I have a quiet mind unless I'm upset or something.

VelvetUndergrounds · 28/05/2025 14:32

Never. My mind is busy non-stop. Such fun…

XWKD · 28/05/2025 14:22

BountifulPantry · 28/05/2025 06:38

I’m so sorry this happened.

Do you know why it made you suicidal? What happened? I’m interested in meditation so just curious. Sorry really personal questions.

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Thank you. ❤️

It triggered depersonalisation disorder. I suppose it was just waiting for an excuse to show itself.

rosemarble · 28/05/2025 13:16

AllProperTeaIsTheft · 28/05/2025 12:46

I would draw the distinction in a different place. Your brain is always controlling a gazillion things in your body, yes. However, a thought is surely a conscious thing? It seems obvious to me that some people simply think more and have busier minds than others. Meditation is a well-known and ages-old way to quieten the mind. Nobody's suggesting that anyone can literally switch off their brain function, stopping thinking altogether for brief periods of time, and practising reducing the amount of chatter in your head generally, are clearly possible.

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Yes. My comment was a possible interpretation of what SnowFrog meant by "Nobody’s brain gets quiet"

RaininSummer · 28/05/2025 12:48

No and it can be exhausting.

AllProperTeaIsTheft · 28/05/2025 12:46

rosemarble · 28/05/2025 12:40

I imagine she is making a distinction between brain activity and conscious thoughts/your mind.

Your brain is always active, unless you are dead. You are always thinking and processing things, you might not be aware of it though, and I think that's what OP mean by a quiet brain.

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I would draw the distinction in a different place. Your brain is always controlling a gazillion things in your body, yes. However, a thought is surely a conscious thing? It seems obvious to me that some people simply think more and have busier minds than others. Meditation is a well-known and ages-old way to quieten the mind. Nobody's suggesting that anyone can literally switch off their brain function, stopping thinking altogether for brief periods of time, and practising reducing the amount of chatter in your head generally, are clearly possible.

rosemarble · 28/05/2025 12:40

AllProperTeaIsTheft · 28/05/2025 12:31

How on earth could you know that? Do you have the ability to read minds?

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I imagine she is making a distinction between brain activity and conscious thoughts/your mind.

Your brain is always active, unless you are dead. You are always thinking and processing things, you might not be aware of it though, and I think that's what OP mean by a quiet brain.