Let me out of my own head please

[Chickenkeev]

I'm soooo sick of inhabiting my own head. I'm miserable, just started anti ds. But can't wait for them to kick in. It'll take weeks, o don'nt have weeks.

I understand this phrase, it explains it brilliantly.
Take one day at a time Chickenkeev. Cut out toxicity where you can and remember that summer is coming soon to lift your brain chemistry.

Are you able to get out for a walk in the daylight tomorrow? (today)

ASMR can be very effective - search YouTube for some videos if you're able to. Gives you something to focus on, but doesn't demand anything of you. It helps to soothe and distract.

Have you tried guided meditation?

Hi @Chickenkeev sorry you're going through this 😔
Sending you lots of positive vibes to get you through the next few weeks x

What form do the thoughts take? I sometimes find it's useful to identify what medium my brain is torturing me in (words, pictures, sensations, music, whatever) and try to set up some kind of targeted competition to that, pitched at a level I can reasonably concentrate on. So if I've got worries going round my head in words, I'll listen to a podcast or an audiobook. If it's intrusive unpleasant images, I might watch a TV show I like or YouTube videos of cute baby rats or something. If it's music, I'll play something else to drown it out. If I feel unpleasant physical sensations linked with anxiety, I'll maybe do something active or cuddle a hot water bottle. Or, for me, the best thing is if I can get myself absorbed in a video game — that can really help subdue unhelpful thoughts and feelings for a while, though I'm not always up to concentrating on it.

Anything external which can compete on the same channel that your depression/anxiety is broadcasting on is good. I get that it's not always possible to concentrate properly, to get into or enjoy things, or motivate yourself to do things, but even if you're not enjoying it, it's easier to ignore something like an inner monologue of doom if there's something that might pique your interest coming in at your ears.

Basically, right now you're not looking for long-term "let's deal with underlying problems and devise and implement effective treatment strategies for my future life" stuff, you're looking for whatever gets you through the minutes, hours and days, and it's okay if that's lots of different things or if it's one thing.

As long as it's not causing any harm, whatever you need to do to get through it while you wait for the tablets to start working is fine. Doesn't matter if that's rewatching ancient episodes of Neighbours or playing Grand Theft Auto for hours or cuddling up in bed with your old Enid Blytons or moisturising yourself till you're slippier than an oiled skating rink or listening to Chopin piano sonatas on repeat while crying or bathing till you turn into a human prune.

If some things slide and don't get done as often as usual, it's probably not a big deal — you could have had a bad bout of Covid that lasted that long, and nobody reasonable would get upset about you needing to take care of yourself while you got better from that.

I'm still here, a week or so on the meds and still can't sleep. I feel less depressed but really irritated (and knackered!) with the lack of sleep. Watching very random youtube stuff to get me through the night. Really just want to sleep.

I found a brain dump to be useful. Once a day for ten minutes write /type non-stop. So whatevers in your head even if it's repetitive - just keep the flow moving. Anger, frustration, bitterness, banal list of what you need to buy....it's the ejecting the thoughts that helps kind of like a mental enema.

I'm like this too. It's miserable.

When I can't sleep, I listen to a podcast called Sleep With Me:
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/SleepwithhMe(podcast)

It really helps me.

Thanks for the link. Will try that!

Sorry you’re feeling this way. I’ve been there, and the best thing I did was to read. I even went back to evening college to get something more back in my life. Having a focus got me out of my head. Insomnia has stayed, but the anxiety and intrusive thoughts has reduced massively.

stay strong and in the meantime, the other suggestions here are great - write down your feelings, maybe even do some painting. Get off YouTube and social media if you can, or at least work towards it.

also go for walks more. It’s amazing how this helps with sleep and anxiety.

well being is so important, so have a think about things you like doing and make time for it. Swimming, yoga, listening to music, charity work, cooking, painting (try free pouring art, it’s ridiculously satisfying). It all helps, and although your brain is tired, your body might not be and that will make sleep more difficult.

sending you big hugs as I know it’s not easy. Don’t forget that the Samaritans are there for you if you ever need to just have a chat.

I feel for you.

So all the usual suggestions like going for a walk, meditation, yoga, journalling etc does not work for me at all when I'm struggling.

Those things just keep me in my head and I feel worse.

What actually helps is repetitive tasks - physically doing something, anything, that needs a bit of concentration. Painting (DIY, not art) sanding, vacuuming, all help me somehow feel less trapped in my mind. And bonus of feeling productive.

I'd take a couple of magnesium glycinate and put a guided mediation for sleep on in that situation. Magnesium knocks me out and helps me sleep better through the night, the the meditation to block out the mental noise. Hope you start to feel better.

When my insomnia is bad I stick some headphones in and either listen to a guided meditation or an audiobook that I've already listened to before. The noise drowns out my negative thoughts without being too much focus to stop me sleeping.

I also do the brain dump that pp mentioned. It gets the thoughts out of your head and onto some paper.

I also go to 2 exercise classes a week, the mix of gentle social interaction and exercise is great without having to interact too much.

Thanks everyone! Just re: the walking, I can't really. One of my legs is f*cked, it needs physio or something which i can't afford so I'm limited to limping around the house and back garden. Lack of activity is probably linked to not sleeping? Despite lack of sleep I feel so much better today than I have in a long time, I spoke to my mum (i hadn't in a while) and realised how much I missed talking to her. It sounds super cheesy but my soul feels complete for it. Like I said, super cheesy! Anyway, thanks everyone. I'll definitely look into all the ideas.