To wonder what is like to have a healthy mind?

It’s peaceful. It doesn’t just arrive with a pill or a specific treatment.

I worked at it. I healed. I did the inner work. I read, a lot. It was long, arduous and progress was not linear.

It isn’t just a case of luck. Lots of people don’t do the inner work because it requires huge amounts of humility, reality and a drop in one’s own defence mechanisms.

Someone recommended Ashwagandha to me. It oddly switched off my inner monologue. I didn’t stick with it for various reasons. But am finding that wli have a similar (but not so striking) effect which I prefer. I feel calmer and more focused. Easier to stick to good habits, less self sabotaging (not trifles like eating and drinking - I mean like being tidy and more orderly, checking my diary regularly, doing what I’m supposed to be doing - all without an interior running commentary fretting and/or doing me down.

What I’m saying is not automatically drug yourself. But that there may be more going on than a need for “inner work” or a response to the madness of modern life. It’s probably not your fault, but it probably can be improved.

Me too. I don’t know how someone else can replicate it unfortunately!
I don’t think about the past at all and little about the future bar normal planning eg pension etc. I don’t worry about my dc , I automatically expect they will be fine.
if something is out of my control I don’t give it any headspace.
If it’s in my control, I’ll do my best to sort it then see what happens.

I totally appreciate that I’m lucky in this mindset and it’s probably the result of a very mundane ( in a good way) , problem free childhood and life.

Possibly stupid question, but when are you letting yourself think @Passionfruitsndorange ?

I used to spend my nights desperately trying to get my brain to turn itself off at bed time, to stop ruminating on what needed doing etc.

And then I realised I wasn't giving it any time to do it any other time of day. I was always doing something with it. Working, or listening to a podcast while cooking, or reading, or watching TV, or a other podcast while out for a walk. My brain was never not engaged in some outside stimulus. I ditched some of the podcasts. Switched to music when cooking and during the commute home, and the change was spectacular. All that stuff that would whirl roundy brain at bedtime got the chance to be dealt with earlier, and I'd got to bed and could actually sleep.

This is really good advice. Sometimes when I’ve had a problem I’ve almost scheduled some time to think about. Then after that banish it from my thoughts! The brain needs time to process different things.

Also works for a cry. After my unexpected divorce I would sometimes allow 10 minutes for a cry before my shower in the morning. Maybe a proper big sob because I was sad and felt sorry for myself! Then have a lovely hot shower and put it all behind me - maybe until tomorrow or next week or eventually forever. Good luck.

Another couple of book recommendations, if you get through the others—
The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle
The Untethered Soul by Michael A Singer
These helped me immensely.

You sound like you are already doing a lot of this but what works for me is—committed daily meditation, breathwork, yoga, cold water immersion and exercise outside. No caffeine, alcohol, junk food.
Above all, eating as much fresh fruit and salad as I can.

I get that medication works for many, but I prefer not to take that route. I find all of the above massively beneficial.

@Passionfruitsndorange yoga has been the most powerful tool for me. If you would like to DM me I’d happily go into more details.

Interesting Post.
Why do some drug adficts get addicted to drugs because of a painful childhood. Surely they just make their lives worse.

I just really dont overthink anything (my fears, feelings, worries), by distracting myself with other things, being to busy to ruminate.

Giving myself proportion helps. Someone else out there has it worse.

Accept/practise being in situations where you cant control everything & have to let it play out. Recognise the things you can control & the things you cant.

Do hobbies that require busy hands and concentration - learn to play piano,teach yourself to knit really complicated patterns, do watercolours. Things you finish/complete so your brain finds fulfilment.

Or write things down & then burn them. Make it quite ceremonial to free yourself of them.

Therapy did it for me OP. Helped me let go of a very chaotic and harsh upbringing and become very kind to myself. I was an anxious mess into my mid 30s, at 44 I'm fairly chilled most of the time.

I’ve had CBT. I’ve had tons of trauma over the years. then a breakdown, you get it.

The part of the CBT that will help you the most is setting a time per day or week to worry about stuff. You write it down and store it for then.

I try to be mindful.

I wouldnt dwell overmuch on this. We dont always need to express everything. Sometimes its cathartic but often it isnt, it becomes a wallow. Too much navel gazing on how we feel can be quite individualistic.

The happiest people in the world tend to be those who live in social groups where theres much less focus on the self and more focus on the group as a whole/others.

You might be doing too many things. Find a couple that help you focus on them.

CBT has lots of techniques you can try but in most case a lot made it worse.

Solution focused hypnotherapy helps you to create new neural pathways in your brain which encourages positive thoughts, feelings and actions.
plus you only need around 10 sessions.

Stress free, drama free calm and peaceful life. Not to say nothing ever botherd me it will but it's a case of end of the day go to sleep wake up tomorrow is a new day, a new start and it's hardly ever worth it to continue thinking over and over about something that has already happened and can't be changed. Move forward and do what you can control.

Might be easier to try and limit your time, its okay to think it over and over butnwhehnits days and weeks, affecting youd health and your mood then that's too far. So for me I acknowledge it and give myself that day and thats it.